Kamala Harris Pushes Green Cards for Afghans, Sparking Security Debate

Man speaking with Harris for President image inset

Kamala Harris’s proposal for green cards for Afghan nationals stirs a heated debate on immigration and national security.

At a Glance

  • Vice President Kamala Harris is advocating for green cards for Afghan evacuees brought to the U.S.
  • Concerns exist about vetting failures that allowed potentially dangerous individuals to enter the country.
  • Federal audits and whistleblower testimonies highlighted serious lapses in the vetting process.
  • A Defense Department Inspector General’s report flagged dozens of evacuees with significant security concerns.
  • The recent arrest of an ISIS-linked individual in Oklahoma intensifies the scrutiny.

Green Card Proposal Amid Security Concerns

Vice President Kamala Harris is championing a plan to provide Afghan nationals evacuated to the U.S. with green cards, stirring debate in the political arena. This proposal is unveiled amidst security apprehensions due to the vetting challenges in the initial relocation process of these individuals. Harris aims to secure tens of thousands of green cards for Afghans, a move that is receiving both advocacy and resistance given the reported lapses during their immigration checks.

The Biden-Harris administration resettled nearly 100,000 Afghan nationals across American communities following the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Concerns arose after reports highlighted insufficient vetting, allowing individuals with potential security risks to enter the country. A recent arrest in Oklahoma of someone allegedly linked to ISIS has amplified these fears, increasing the complexity of balancing security risks against humanitarian obligations.

Legislative Challenges

A new Senate bill, supported by Senators James Lankford, Kyrsten Sinema, and Chris Murphy, aims to facilitate a permanent residency pathway for Afghans. This legislation proposes an “earned pathway to citizenship” while pledging to bolster border security. However, critics assert that the proposal potentially ignores significant security risks due to previous vetting shortcomings. Homeland Security reports confirmed many Afghan evacuees were resettled without comprehensive background checks, further exacerbating security concerns.

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

Reports from whistleblowers and federal audits underline these assertions, with the Defense Department Inspector General’s report signaling numerous evacuees carry significant security issues. Political opponents argue the administration’s focus on green card issuance overlooks pressing security threats.

Immigration Policy and the 2024 Election

The topic of immigration features prominently in the 2024 presidential election, with figures like Donald Trump and Harris taking firm stances. Trump continues to advocate for stringent immigration policies, proposing mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship, while Harris promotes a measured approach, supporting bipartisan efforts for border security combined with legal pathways to citizenship.

“As part of my plan to secure the border, on Day One of my new term in office, I will sign an executive order making clear to federal agencies that under the correct interpretation of the law, going forward, the future children of illegal aliens will not receive automatic U.S. citizenship,” Trump said.

Harris’s proposed border security measures, which include increased asylum requirements and border enforcement funding, serve as a counterbalance to Trump’s immigration agenda. However, the ongoing scrutiny over the resettlement safety of Afghan nationals remains a powerful aspect of the immigration narrative, with stakeholders emphasizing the integral balance between reinforcing national security and maintaining humanitarian commitments.

Sources

1. Immigration: Where do Trump and Harris stand?

2. Kamala Harris Promises Green Cards for Afghan Evacuees Despite Vetting Failures Exposing National Security Risks

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