Review of: Kamala Harris Advocates Green Cards for Afghan Nationals Amid Security Concerns and Criticism

Vice President Kamala Harris’s push for green cards for Afghan evacuees sparks controversy amid security concerns and insufficient vetting reports.

At a Glance

Harris advocates for green cards for Afghan nationals resettled in the U.S.
Federal audits reveal serious lapses in the vetting process of Afghan evacuees
A bipartisan Senate bill aims to provide a path to permanent residency for Afghans
Critics argue that prioritizing green cards overlooks potential security risks
Immigration remains a key issue in the 2024 presidential election

Harris’s Green Card Initiative for Afghan Evacuees

Vice President Kamala Harris is spearheading an initiative to provide green cards to Afghan nationals who were evacuated to the United States following the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. This move comes as part of a broader push for immigration reform, despite growing concerns about the vetting process that allowed these individuals into the country. The Biden-Harris administration has already resettled nearly 100,000 Afghan nationals in American communities, and now seeks to offer them a path to permanent residency.

However, this initiative has faced significant pushback due to reports of vetting failures and security concerns. Federal audits and whistleblower testimonies have highlighted serious lapses in the background check process for Afghan evacuees. A Department of Homeland Security report indicated that many individuals were resettled without thorough background checks, raising alarms about potential national security risks.

Bipartisan Support and Criticism

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, critics argue that prioritizing green cards for Afghan nationals overlooks the security risks posed by insufficient vetting.

“We can create an earned pathway to citizenship and secure our border,” Harris said during the Democratic National Convention in August.

Adding fuel to the debate, a Defense Department Inspector General’s report flagged dozens of evacuees with significant security concerns. Some individuals admitted under the program have reportedly disappeared into U.S. communities, raising monitoring concerns and intensifying scrutiny over the resettlement program’s safety.

Immigration: A Key 2024 Election Issue

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, immigration has become a central issue, with both Harris and former President Donald Trump adopting strong stances. While Harris supports a bipartisan border security deal that emphasizes both border security and legal pathways to citizenship, Trump is promising mass deportations and an end to birthright citizenship if re-elected.

“I will bring back the bipartisan border security bill that he killed, and I will sign it into law,” Harris said at the DNC.

Trump’s approach includes reinstating previous immigration policies such as building a border wall and implementing travel bans. He also opposes humanitarian parole programs and plans to end them if elected. The stark contrast between the two approaches highlights the divisive nature of immigration policy in the current political landscape.

Ongoing Concerns and Investigations

The controversy surrounding the Afghan resettlement program has led to further investigations. House Foreign Affairs Committee 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.

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

As the debate over immigration and national security continues, the Biden-Harris administration faces mounting pressure to address concerns about the vetting process while balancing humanitarian obligations and domestic security interests. The outcome of this controversy could have significant implications for U.S. immigration policy and national security strategies in the years to come.