The latest effort to assist thousands of Afghans who supported the 20-year American mission in their country is in jeopardy due to a new bill led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), according to former military leaders and advocates. Over 40 retired military officers, including high-ranking generals like Stanley McChrystal, and more than 20 veterans’ groups have sent letters to congressional leaders expressing their opposition to Cotton’s legislation. They argue that Cotton’s bill undermines the efforts made over the past two years to support these Afghans.
After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, Afghan individuals with ties to the U.S. were put at risk and forced to flee. Advocates for these Afghans called on Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide them with permanent residency in America through additional screening, enhance State Department support for U.S. partners still in Afghanistan, and expand eligibility for special visas for Afghans. Last week, supporters of the bill reintroduced it in the Senate and the House. They aim to attach it to the annual defense spending bill, highlighting the increased GOP support and the imminent expiration of temporary status for the 80,000 Afghans evacuated to the U.S.
However, Sen. Cotton unveiled his own legislation, the Ensuring American Security and Protect Afghan Allies Act, which is only supported by Republicans and makes it more challenging for any president to provide temporary protection to foreign citizens, as President Biden did for Afghan evacuees. Critics argue that Cotton’s bill distracts from the bipartisan alternative and hinders Congress from providing much-needed assistance to Afghans promised loyalty by the U.S. The retired military leaders and veterans who oppose Cotton’s bill claim that it does not sufficiently expand special visas for U.S.-linked Afghans or adequately support those left behind, but instead focuses on unrelated issues regarding the Southwest border.
Supporters of the Afghan Adjustment Act are concerned that Cotton’s bill could fracture GOP commitment to the issue and turn it into a partisan matter. They view Cotton’s approach as a hindrance to potential future allies who could find themselves in similar situations. Notably, Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Thom Tillis, who support the Afghan Adjustment Act, are also co-sponsors of Cotton’s bill. Advocates hope that the clear and reasonable choice for lawmakers from both parties will be to support the Afghan Adjustment Act.
The fate of the legislation now rests in the Senate, as the House version of the defense bill passed without any provisions for the Afghan allies. If the Senate includes changes in its version of the bill, there is a chance they will be incorporated in the final draft of the defense legislation. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) express hopes that Cotton and other lawmakers will ultimately support the Afghan Adjustment Act, which they believe fulfills the promise made to Afghans who worked alongside American troops.
This article includes tracking pixels from Facebook.