RASC News Agency: Prominent Democratic members of the U.S. Congress have called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reinstate the Afghanistani refugee resettlement program, a policy he had previously endorsed. On his first day in office as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending the nation’s refugee admissions program, effectively halting the resettlement of thousands of displaced individuals. As a result of this suspension, thousands of Afghanistani refugees stranded across various countries have been left in limbo, with their cases unresolved and futures uncertain. In a letter initially shared with Politico, a coalition of American lawmakers urged their former colleague to leverage his influence in reversing the suspension of resettlement services services deemed essential for helping refugees rebuild their lives in the United States.
Democratic lawmakers argue that this form of aid should not be categorized as “foreign development assistance,” as it directly benefits individuals already within the United States rather than those residing abroad. They further highlight that in the 2025 fiscal year, the refugee resettlement program is set to facilitate the admission of 32,000 refugees, many of whom remain eligible for assistance. Additionally, they stress the urgent need to support Afghanistani nationals who had previously contributed to U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and now face grave threats in their homeland. “The termination of this program undermines the State Department’s legal obligations, established through contracts with U.S.-based organizations and intergovernmental agencies. It heightens vulnerabilities among newly arrived refugees, exacerbating the risks of homelessness and food insecurity, while depriving them of any viable path to protection,” the letter states.
The signatories include Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, both leading Democrats on the Judiciary Committees of the House and Senate. Also endorsing the appeal are Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Senator Alex Padilla of California, both senior Democratic members of the immigration committees in their respective chambers.
