Senate Democrats accuse Trump of abandoning Afghan allies at risk

Democratic senators say the Trump administration has effectively frozen a bipartisan visa program for Afghans who helped the U. S. war effort, leaving more than 155,000 applicants in limbo. The findings come from a 161-page study obtained by MS NOW and commissioned by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who is retiring. According to the senators, the State Department approved only three Afghan Special Immigrant Visas from January through March, and the office that coordinated relocation has been eliminated. Most of those still waiting remain in Afghanistan, where they could face Taliban retaliation.

The study says Trump tightened restrictions after taking office and pushed further once an Afghan national who had worked with the CIA was charged in the shooting of two National Guard troops in Washington last year; one died. A State Department spokesman defended a full travel ban, saying the country had kept its promise to Afghans who risked their lives for it and that it is time to look ahead. The White House did not immediately comment.

A Homeland Security inspector general review found a 40% error rate in processing Afghans evacuated after Kabul fell, mostly missed aliases or name spellings.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →