Amid vetting criticisms and security concerns, Vice President Kamala Harris’s push for green cards for Afghan refugees is under examination. In America, more than 100,000 Afghan nationals have resettled. Green card prioritization, according to critics, puts national security at risk. The presidential election’s central issue is still immigration.
Harris Pushes for Afghan Green Cards Amid Vetting Concerns
Vice President Kamala Harris is spearheading efforts to provide green cards to tens of thousands of Afghan nationals who were evacuated to the United States following the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. This initiative comes as part of a broader push for comprehensive immigration reform, which Harris describes as necessary to fix a “broken” system. But the plan has sparked a heated discussion about national security and the effectiveness of the screening procedures employed in the initial evacuation.
The Biden-Harris administration has already resettled nearly 100,000 Afghan nationals in American communities. While some have applauded this action as a humanitarian gesture, critics have expressed concern, citing federal audits and whistleblower testimonies that reveal significant flaws in the vetting procedure. Many people were resettled without conducting extensive background checks, according to a Department of Homeland Security report. This revelation has increased bipartisan concern about the program’s safety.
So far, Biden/Harris administration officials have declined to discuss what was done to vet this person. DHS said in a statement:
"Afghan evacuees who sought to enter the United States were subject to multi layered screening and vetting against intelligence, law enforcement,… https://t.co/PT69suxPA8
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) October 9, 2024
Security Risks and Vetting Failures
Critics of the green card initiative argue that prioritizing permanent residency for Afghan nationals overlooks significant security risks due to insufficient vetting. A Defense Department Inspector General’s report flagged dozens of evacuees with substantial security concerns, adding weight to these criticisms. The recent arrest of Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an alleged ISIS operative in Oklahoma, has further intensified the debate over the adequacy of screening protocols.
“We can create an earned pathway to citizenship and secure our border,” Harris said during the Democratic National Convention in August.
Despite these assurances, reports of individuals admitted under the program disappearing into U.S. communities have raised monitoring concerns. These incidents have prompted calls for a more stringent approach to national security in the context of immigration policy.
Kamala Harris’ open border endangers every American.
She invited the chaos she created around the world into our homeland. https://t.co/8Ii7jSzUsN
— Joni Ernst (@joniernst) October 8, 2024
Legislative Efforts and Political Divide
A Senate bill supported by Senators James Lankford, Kyrsten Sinema, and Chris Murphy aims to facilitate permanent residency for Afghans. The legislation proposes an “earned pathway to citizenship” and promises improved border security measures. However, the bill faces opposition from those who argue that it doesn’t address the fundamental security issues raised by the vetting failures.
“I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he killed, and I will sign it into law,” Harris said at the DNC.
The issue of immigration has become a key battleground for the 2024 presidential election. While Harris advocates for comprehensive reform that includes both border security and pathways to citizenship, her approach contrasts sharply with that of potential rival Donald Trump. The former president has promised to reinstate his previous immigration policies, including mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship, if re-elected.
Ongoing Debate and Future Implications
As the debate over Afghan refugees and immigration policy continues, the House Foreign Affairs Committee has added fuel to the fire. Chairman Michael McCaul released a comprehensive report titled “Willful Blindness: An Assessment of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Chaos that Followed.” The report claims that the administration failed to plan adequately for the Afghan government’s collapse, impacting the safe evacuation of U.S. personnel and allies.
The controversy surrounding the Afghan green card initiative underscores the complex challenges facing U.S. immigration policy. As the nation grapples with balancing humanitarian obligations against national security concerns, the outcome of this debate is likely to have far-reaching implications for future immigration and refugee policies.
