Two senior House Democrats have called for a public oversight hearing to examine what they describe as the Trump administration’s abrupt and potentially harmful changes to US policy toward Afghan refugees — particularly those who worked alongside American forces during two decades of war.
In a letter dated July 7 and addressed to the Republican chairs of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks of New York and Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California expressed alarm over what they described as the administration’s abandonment of a longstanding bipartisan commitment to protect America’s Afghan allies.
The lawmakers criticized recent decisions by the Trump administration, including the closure of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office and the shutdown of the Enduring Welcome program, which was designed to resettle eligible Afghan refugees in the United States. The changes were announced via a Congressional Notification on May 29.
“These actions represent far-reaching and potentially irreversible changes in US refugee policy,” the letter reads. “The Administration has unilaterally moved forward with these decisions, without offering a clear replacement structure or plan for the affected individuals.”
The lawmakers also denounced the administration’s May 12 announcement that it would end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals as of July 12, potentially leaving thousands of refugees at risk of deportation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
The letter accuses the administration of ignoring repeated requests for information on these policy shifts, noting that the State Department has provided only “cursory written responses” despite multiple inquiries from February through June.
“For our allies who depend on us and were left behind, they are living this battle still every single day in a very personal way,” Mr. Meeks wrote, citing a statement previously made by Chairman Brian Mast, a Republican, at a committee roundtable last year.
Although the letter was addressed to Chairman Mast and Representative Bill Huizenga — who leads the Subcommittee on South and Central Asia — it also voiced readiness to work across party lines to ensure protection for vulnerable Afghans.
“Vulnerable Afghan allies deserve clear assurances and a plan from the Administration and Congress,” the letter said. “We stand ready to work with you in a bipartisan manner to protect our Afghan allies and uphold the oversight prerogatives of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”
The push comes amid ongoing uncertainty over the future of US refugee programs for Afghan nationals. While the letter referenced the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, it did not address the status of Priority 1 and Priority 2 (P-1/P-2) refugee designations, which also provide pathways for resettlement for at-risk Afghans.
The Trump administration has yet to provide detailed public comment on its rationale for the recent changes. Critics say the policy reversals have left thousands of Afghans — many of whom supported US military and diplomatic missions — in limbo, with few safe options for relocation.
