Topline
A new poll has found that the vast majority of Americans support the taking in Afghans who have assisted the U.S. during the war in Afghanistan. More than half a dozen Republican governors support the taking in Afghan refugees.
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 19 2021: Afghans travel the road to... [+] the military gate for evacuations in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, August 19, 2021. The first Taliban checkpoint is where Afghans must wait before they can bring their possessions to the military gate. A few hundred people gather there to listen to the spotty announcements of a thin Taliban fighter, with long, wavy hair, standing on an elevated platform. He was wearing a surgical mask for covid19 protection, but it barely covered his mouth. His right hand is filled with a cold water bottle. He also has a semi-automatic pistol in his left hand and a walkie-talkie radio. The Taliban fighter holding the pistol announces they will call out the names of countries, and only those who have approved for flights to these countries will be allowed to enter. (MARCUS YAM / LOS ANGELES TIMES) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The Key Facts
According to a CBS News/YouGov poll, 81% of 2,142 adults in the United States surveyed believed that the U.S. should assist Afghans seeking asylum. Only 19% thought they shouldn't. The poll found that 90% of Democrats support taking in these Afghans who were translators, intelligence sources and drivers, as well as 79% of Trump voters and independents. 76% of Republicans support the idea. Respondents to the poll said that thousands of Afghans still remain in Afghanistan awaiting U.S. visas. 59% said the U.S. isn't doing enough, 14% said it is too much, 27% said the U.S. is doing the right thing, and 79% of independents and Trump voters support the idea. At least nine GOP governors have also pledged to resettle them in the states they represent. Democratic legislators and governors have repeatedly called for refugees, with the Congressional Progressive Caucus calling for the expansion and acceleration of visas and raising the U.S. refugee cap.
Important Background
The U.S. military has evacuated approximately 22,000 Afghans since July 31st. Major General Hank Taylor stated during a briefing on Saturday that screenings and security verifications would be necessary before they can enter the United States. However, the military plans to use multiple bases in the U.S. in order to screen Afghans.
Big Number
50,000-65,000 This is the range that President Joe Biden estimated when asked by ABC News last week how many Afghan allies the U.S. plans to take in. According to the advocacy group Association of Wartime Allies 88,000 Afghans are currently applying for special immigrant visas, while others have requested to take in hundreds of thousands.
Chief Critic
Some prominent Republicans, including Reps. Tom Tiffany (R.Wisc.), have criticised plans to accept thousands of refugees. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) ), Senate candidate J.D. Vance and Stephen Miller, a former Trump aide. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a Republican governor, is among those who have expressed hesitation. She tweeted last week that refugees needed to be thoroughly vetted and that she had doubts about the Biden Admins vetting process.
Tangent
Biden's handling of the U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan left many Americans and Afghans stranded in Kabul, and other parts of Afghanistan following a shockingly fast conquest by Taliban. Biden's approval rating fell from 58% in July, to 50% in August. Only 47% said they approve of Biden's handling of the withdrawal, while 63% support it.
