Dozens of US lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to reverse its decision to halt immigration processing for Afghan nationals, warning that the move endangers Afghan allies and wrongly blames an entire community for a single act of violence.
In a letter dated Dec. 18 to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the lawmakers expressed concern over the administration’s response to a Nov. 26 shooting that killed National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and wounded Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe.
While condemning the attack and calling for full accountability for the shooter, the lawmakers said the incident should not be used to justify sweeping immigration restrictions targeting Afghans.
“The horrific actions of one individual should not be used to vilify every individual from Afghanistan who legally seeks to live in the United States,” the letter said.
The lawmakers noted that Afghans entering the United States through Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), refugee resettlement, humanitarian parole or asylum undergo extensive vetting, often lasting months or years and involving multiple US agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center.
They warned that the administration’s decision to immediately suspend all immigration processing related to Afghan nationals — including SIV applications — risks the lives of Afghans who supported US military and diplomatic missions during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
The letter cited a series of recent administration actions, including terminating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, indefinitely pausing refugee resettlement, placing Afghanistan on a travel ban list, eliminating travel ban exemptions for Afghan SIV holders, and seeking to deport Afghans currently in the United States under humanitarian parole.
“Closing every avenue for Afghan nationals — including those who directly supported our mission and troops on the ground — to seek safety in the United States is wrong,” the lawmakers wrote.
They also criticized the administration’s decision to pause asylum decisions nationwide and to review immigration approvals granted to nationals of countries subject to travel bans since January 2021. Public remarks suggesting “denaturalization” or “remigration,” they said, reflected a dangerous use of collective blame.
“Exploiting this tragedy to sow division and inflame fear will not make America safer,” the letter said, adding that abandoning Afghan allies could undermine US credibility with future partners.
The lawmakers urged the administration to rescind policies they said scapegoat Afghans and place vulnerable individuals at greater risk, stressing that many Afghans continue to face persecution, repression and violence under Taliban rule.
The letter was signed by more than 70 members of Congress, including Representatives Jason Crow, Seth Moulton, Pramila Jayapal, Adam Smith, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Joaquin Castro.
The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
