Key facts
- Over 80 House members, including Democrats and Republicans, signed a letter urging the Trump administration to halt plans to send Afghan nationals to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- The Afghans in question are among 1,100 individuals stranded in Qatar who previously worked with U.S. forces.
- Lawmakers emphasized the moral and national security imperative to support Afghan allies who served alongside U.S. troops.
- The Trump administration had previously explored sending these Afghans to the DRC, a country experiencing an Ebola outbreak.
- The letter suggested that some of these Afghan nationals should be considered for entry into the United States.
Dozens of U.S. lawmakers have called on the Trump administration to abandon plans to relocate Afghan nationals who assisted U.S. forces to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In a letter seen by Reuters, over 80 members of the House of Representatives, comprising both Democrats and at least three Republicans, appealed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reconsider the relocation of approximately 1,100 Afghans who have been awaiting resettlement in Qatar for over four years.
Democratic Congressman Jason Crow, a former army ranger who spearheaded the letter, stated that it is a "moral and a national security imperative" for the U.S. to uphold its commitments to those who risked their safety to aid American forces.
The situation for Afghans has become more challenging since late 2025, following an incident in Washington D.C. where an Afghan immigrant was accused of an attack that resulted in the death of a National Guard soldier and injuries to another. At the time, the Trump administration cited concerns over vetting processes during the previous Biden administration, though the suspect had been granted asylum under Donald Trump.
President Trump had previously signed an executive order restricting Afghan refugees, including those who collaborated with the military, from entering the U.S. Support for programs like the special immigrant visa, which facilitates the entry of Afghans who worked with American forces, has diminished among many Republicans in Congress.
During a congressional hearing, Rubio was questioned about the administration's continued plans to send Afghans to the DRC, despite an ongoing Ebola outbreak there. He indicated that the U.S. was engaged in discussions with "multiple countries" regarding their potential acceptance of these individuals.
The lawmakers emphasized the critical support provided by Afghan allies during the nearly two-decade mission in Afghanistan, noting their essential roles as interpreters, contractors, and security personnel who fought alongside U.S. service members. The letter also proposed that some of these Afghans be considered for entry into the United States.