WASHINGTON (AP). As the U.S. rushes for Americans and their allies out of Afghanistan's chaos, a growing number Republicans question why the U.S. should accept Afghan citizens who have worked alongside Americans. This further exacerbates divisions within the party as it heads into next year's midterm elections.
A week ago, while the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan was still in focus, ex-President Donald Trump issued a statement stating that civilians and other people who have been kind to our country should be allowed to seek refuge. However, he recently warned of the dangers posed to those fleeing their country before the end of the month deadline.
He asked how many terrorists Joe Biden would bring to America.
While Republicans are scathingly critiquing Biden's first major foreign policy crisis in history, others are turning to Trump's nativist and anti-immigrant rhetoric during his four years as president. Others in the party are dismaying at the idea, believing that the U.S. should be looking out for those who have helped Americans in the past two decades.
Olivia Troye, who is currently the director of Republican Accountability Project, stated that false narratives that there are terrorists are completely false. This is completely unfounded in terms of intelligence and national security.
Veteran Republican pollster Neil Newhouse said that the rhetoric indicates a general increase in concern about terrorist threats in the country after Afghanistan's fall to Taliban. This is not just a concern for those in the immediate future who might not have been properly vetted but also for the year ahead.
He said that there is a feeling of less safety as a nation as a consequence.
Biden's administration stressed that all people who are allowed to enter the U.S. have been thoroughly vetted by U.S. officials, who work around the clock. Trump and his supporters are demanding that Americans be given priority for evacuation. They also warn of the dangers of Afghans being rescued during one of the largest civilian airlift operations in history.
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Talk intensified after a suicide bomber ripped through Kabul's crowd, killing 13 U.S. military personnel and more than 150 Afghans.
Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) tweeted: "How many American military personnel must die to evacuate unvetted refugee? Bring our troops home and get American citizens out.
Ted Cruz (Republican from Texas) visited Fort Bliss' Doa Ana Range complex, where many refugees will be accommodated. Later, he tweeted that the U.S. should rescue Afghans having assisted the US military but should send them to a neutral and safe third country.
He said that they should not come to the US without a full security screening.
This was in response to a Wednesday call by James Comer (the top Republican on House Oversight and Reform committee), asking for the administration's briefing on its efforts to vet Afghan refugees and stop terrorists entering the country.
We are especially concerned about terrorists and other people who want to harm the United States in the chaos created by the Talibans takingover of Afghanistan. He wrote letters to the secretaries for state and homeland security.
Others, such as Republican governors or members of Congress have taken a different position, welcoming refugees into their states and working tirelessly to assist those fleeing. The effort to assist Afghan family members and friends is one of the most pressing issues on Capitol Hill.
Since Aug. 14, the United States and its allies have evacuated more 100,000 Afghans, including over 5,100 Americans. Although the priority of the United States is to evacuate Americans, these numbers reflect the demographics and needs of those fleeing.
According to U.S. officials, approximately 500 Americans want to leave Afghanistan. Others want to remain. Many Afghans, including those who were American fixers, interpreters, and other support personnel, want to flee, as they fear that the Taliban will use them as a prey for their vengeance.
However, Republicans continue to accuse the Biden administration for failing to put Americans first.
Republican J.D. said that we were actually prioritizing Afghan refugees over our own citizens. Vance is running for Senate in Ohio, and has repeatedly made television appearances criticizing the administration's approach.
Fox Business Network reported that he claimed, with no evidence, that the U.S. does not know 90% of those being evacuated. He also stated some people have been found on broad-ranging terror databases.
They place Americans last in all aspects, but Americans pay the price for it all," said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who rose to prominence through incendiary remarks.
Trump, his former policy advisor Stephen Miller, and conservative commentators Tucker Carlson have gone even further. They use the same anti-immigrant language as Trump's 2015 speech in which he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination.
Trump stated that the Taliban, now in total control, wouldn't have allowed the brightest and best to board these evacuation flights. We can only imagine the number of terrorists who have been flown out of Afghanistan to other parts of the world.
Carlson warned of the possibility that Afghans could invade America.
This rhetoric reflects the transformation of a party once ruled by neoconservatives, who advocated nation-building interventions and invaded Afghanistan and Iraq almost 20 years ago.
However, not all Republicans are on board.
Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), whose office has worked around the clock for the rescue of the many Afghans he claims deserve evacuation, criticised his party members who used terrorist rhetoric.
He said that he would recommend they do their research. Talking to people we have spoken to, you can see their service records and you will notice that they live in the same tents, carry arms together, and were in live firefights. How dare anyone doubt whether they are worthy to travel to this country or a safer third country.
Tillis said that we were not just talking about walking down the street picking and choosing people. These people are known to us. We know their children. We also know their service records. It is quite clear that someone who takes this position, every single time, insults a service member who views these people as brothers and sisters."
Many Afghans who want to travel to the U.S. have done so under the Special Immigration Visa program, which is only for those who served with U.S. forces. Adam Bates, International Refugee Assistance Project policy counsel, stated that these individuals had been thoroughly vetted by U.S authorities prior to applying for the program. They are then again extensively vetted "by a wide range of federal agencies" before visas are issued.
Troye, who spent considerable time in Afghanistan over the years said that Americans became very close to Afghans they served with.
She said that these people were like our family. It is really shameful that some Republicans speak in this manner about people who risked their lives for us, but were actually our allies on ground."
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This report was contributed by Lisa Mascaro, an Associated Press journalist.
