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US lawmakers demand Trump officials halt plan to send Afghans to DRC
TL;DR
Over 80 US lawmakers have urged the Trump administration to halt plans to relocate Afghan nationals to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They emphasize the moral obligation to protect those who assisted US forces during the Afghanistan war.
Key points
- Over 80 US lawmakers urged the Trump administration to halt relocation plans
- Afghans who worked with US forces are currently stranded in Qatar
- Concerns raised about safety in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mentioned in this story
Trump administrationDemocratic Republic of the CongoQatarJason Crow
Dozens of US lawmakers urged the Trump administration on Thursday to roll back any plans to ship to unsafe third countries Afghan nationals who worked with US forces during the war in their homeland.
In a letter seen by Reuters, more than 80 House of Representatives members, including at least three Republicans as well as Democrats, appealed to secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to reconsider plans for 1,100 Afghans who have been stranded in Qatar awaiting relocation.
“It’s both a moral and a national security imperative that our country live up to its promise and watch out for those who put themselves in harm’s way to help keep us safe,” Jason Crow, a Democratic congressman of Colorado, a former army ranger who led the letter, said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration was in talks to send the Afghans to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as they remained in limbo more than four years after the US withdrawal from Kabul.
The situation for Afghans in particular has been more difficult since late 2025, after an Afghan immigrant was accused of an attack in Washington DC that killed one national guard soldier and wounded another.
After the shooting, Trump’s administration pointed to a lack of vetting of Afghans and other foreign nationals during the term of former US president Joe Biden, although the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, was granted asylum under Donald Trump.
Trump signed an executive order preventing Afghan refugees, including those who worked with the military, from entering the US.
Many of Trump’s fellow Republicans in Congress have stepped back from what was once bipartisan support for efforts like the special immigrant visa program to clear Afghans who had worked with American forces to come to the United States.
Rubio was queried at congressional hearings last week about whether the administration still planned to send the Afghans to DRC, despite an Ebola outbreak there. Rubio responded that the US was talking with “multiple countries” about taking them in.
Q&A
Why are US lawmakers opposing the relocation of Afghans to the DRC?
US lawmakers are opposing the relocation due to concerns about the safety of Afghan nationals who aided US forces, emphasizing a moral and national security obligation.
How many Afghans are currently stranded in Qatar awaiting relocation?
Approximately 1,100 Afghans are stranded in Qatar, awaiting relocation after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
What prompted the recent letter from lawmakers regarding Afghan nationals?
The letter from lawmakers was prompted by plans from the Trump administration to send Afghan nationals to unsafe third countries, raising concerns about their safety and well-being.
