Senate presses State Department on Afghan allies' visas and vetting delays
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Summary
Senators asked Secretary Rubio when Afghans who fought with U.S. forces will receive visas and travel assistance. Rubio said the administration is reviewing past vetting processes after finding errors, distinguishing between visa issuance and payment for travel costs, and that the review remains ongoing.
Senators pressed the State Department to explain delays in admitting Afghan allies who worked with U.S. forces and have been vetted through Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) processes or similar channels.
Secretary Rubio said the administration is reviewing the vetting process and has found errors in prior procedures that prompted a pause and further review. “There have been some errors found in the previous vetting process that we're concerned about,” he said, and distinguished between the issuance of visas and the question of whether the U.S. will pay travel costs after a visa is issued.
Rubio said the department is separating out individuals who have been closely vetted because of their direct work with U.S. intelligence or special forces from other categories and that the vetting review is ongoing. He told senators that the administration hopes to provide more concrete answers soon, but did not offer a firm timeline.
Separately, senators raised the end of Temporary Protected Status for some Afghans scheduled for July 12 and pressed the administration to clarify plans for those covered populations. Rubio acknowledged the complexity and said the department and interagency partners are working on the details.
Ending: The secretary committed to follow up with more detailed answers on vetting, visa issuance and the payment question, and senators emphasized the urgency of meeting prior commitments to Afghan partners.