U.S Democrats call halt of Afghan transfers unethical, against U.S. values

WASHINGTON: Democratic representatives of the U.S. Congress’s Foreign Affairs Committee have criticized the Trump administration’s decision to halt the transfer of eligible Afghans to the U.S., calling the move unethical and contrary to American values and national interests. Despite mounting pressure from Democrats in Congress, a senior official in the U.S. State Department has stated that the Trump administration is transferring dozens of Afghan asylum seekers to third countries, most of which are located in Africa. “Leaving our partners behind contradicts American values,” declared a group led by Democrats during a meeting in Washington. They characterized the abandonment of thousands of former collaborators and personnel in Afghanistan and the region as an “unethical” action inconsistent with the fundamental values of the U.S. Kamala Harris, who hosted the meeting, emphasized, “Respect for the commitments made to Afghan partners and former soldiers is not just a partisan issue; it is tied to America’s national credibility.” She warned that failing to support these individuals would undermine global trust in U.S. commitments. Another representative expressed concern over the sidelining of eligible Afghan cases, noting that those who once saved American soldiers’ lives desperately need urgent assistance and relocation now more than ever. The official pointed to the Trump administration’s immigration restrictions and warned that forcibly returning these asylum seekers would expose them to immediate risks of torture and death. During a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, Deputy Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur stated that Afghans relocated to Qatar and the UAE would be transferred to third countries. Currently, citizens from Afghanistan and dozens of other countries are included in a travel ban to the U.S., affecting many former American collaborators from Afghanistan.