WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that internal reviews are underway to determine which Afghan allies will be allowed to enter the United States, amid growing criticism over delays and policy uncertainty.
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio addressed questions about the fate of thousands of Afghans who worked alongside U.S. military and intelligence forces during the 20-year war and are now awaiting resettlement.
“There’s been a review of the vetting process that’s been used,” Rubio said. “Frankly, there have been some errors found in the previous vetting process that we’re concerned about.”
He noted that the current review is examining both the eligibility criteria for visas and the logistics of travel to the United States. “Some of the issues getting mixed up here are whether we are going to pay for them to fly to the U.S. once a visa is issued, or whether they have to find their own transportation,” Rubio added.
He emphasized that the process is ongoing and acknowledged delays, stating, “I know this is not satisfactory at this moment, but we’ve obviously had a lot going on.”
Rubio also drew a distinction between individuals who worked directly with U.S. special forces or intelligence personnel and the broader population of applicants, many of whom are traveling with family members. He said concerns about inadequate screening had contributed to a temporary slowdown in processing.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, expressed frustration with the lack of progress.
“Unless we’re willing to keep our commitments to those people who were willing to fight and die alongside of us,” Shaheen said, “then how can we ever ask people to do that again?”
She also criticized the administration’s recent announcement to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 8,000 Afghans on July 12, calling the decision a betrayal.
“Many of those people fought alongside our men and women in the military,” she said. “For us to send them back to sure death at the hands of the Taliban is just not what they were promised.”
The exchange underscores the continuing tension between national security concerns and the moral obligation to resettle Afghan partners who face persecution under Taliban rule. More than 212,000 Afghan allies and their families remain in limbo, according to advocacy groups.
