Press Releases

Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) reached out to Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week to offer his support for the State Department's pause of visa issuance for all individuals traveling on Afghan passports, including applicants for Special Immigrant Visas.

President Trump has ordered the U.S. State Department to stop processing visas for Afghan nationals effective immediately in the aftermath of the horrific deadly attack by an Afghan National on Reserve forces, SSgt. Andrew Wolfe and Spc. Sarah Beckstrom.

“President Trump has rightly prioritized aggressive immigration enforcement,” wrote Congressman Hamadeh in his letter to Secretary Rubio. “Now, it is clear that we must focus on legal immigration as well due to the clear threats that stem from inadequate vetting.”

Congressman Hamadeh vows that while Spc. Beckstrom has, as her mother so eloquently stated, "passed to glory," we must ensure that her death is not in vain.

As noted in his letter, in 2021, while serving as a U.S. Army Reserves Intelligence Officer, Congressman Hamadeh watched the Biden Administration's evacuation of more than 60,000 Afghans with the U.S. military during the chaotic withdrawal of Afghanistan. At the time, he recognized the United States’ duty to honor our commitment by not abandoning the Afghans who helped us during our 20-year war, but raised concerns about the Biden Administration vetting process of refugees arriving on American soil.

As a result, Congressman Hamadeh offered Secretary Rubio legislative support for President Trump's proposal to "permanently pause all migration” from those countries that foster a threat to our national security and “remove anyone who is not a net asset to the United States.” 

“The Biden Administration insisted that it had a handle on the Afghan refugee resettlement, just as it insisted that it had the Haitian migration situation in the border town of Del Rio, Texas under control. The truth be told, the Biden Administration unleashed upon our civil society untold numbers of individuals from around the globe who hate all for which this great nation of ours stands. That is nothing short of treasonous,” wrote Congressman Hamadeh, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Please let me know how I can be of service on the legislative level to you in your effort to put America First and protect our citizens from freedom hating foes.”

Contact Olivia.stone@mail.house.gov

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