House Republicans propose reducing Afghan SIVs over vetting concerns

House Republicans are preparing to modify their stopgap spending bill in an effort to gain support from holdouts. The adjustment involves removing a proposed increase in the number of visas available for Afghan allies who assisted U.S. troops.

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), one of the holdouts, explained in an interview on Monday that he is advocating for changes to the Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) provision due to concerns over properly vetting Afghan refugees resettling in the U.S.

Politico has reported on Tuesday, March 11 that some Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives are calling for changes to the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) allocation for Afghan allies. The proposed changes come amid ongoing discussions over the future of the SIV program.

The report indicated that these changes would reduce the number of visas issued from 7,500 to 5,500. This adjustment is being considered as part of efforts to tighten the requirements for Afghan refugees seeking resettlement in the U.S.

Additionally, the report states that these changes would eliminate the two-year extension for visa applications, which had previously been set to offer more time for Afghan applicants to submit their paperwork. This move has raised concerns among advocates for Afghan refugees.

Rep. Andy Ogles, along with two other anonymous Republican lawmakers, has proposed these changes to the funding bill for the Afghan SIV program. They are working to persuade fellow Republicans to support the modification despite opposition from others within the party.

While some Republicans are pushing for these changes, several other lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, oppose the reduction in visas and the cancellation of the extension. They argue that it would harm Afghan allies who supported U.S. forces during the conflict.

In the midst of this debate, a senior advisor from the Republican leadership stated that the Afghan SIV program would be extended until the end of this year. This extension is designed to remain in effect while the U.S. government conducts a review of the program’s effectiveness.

There had been previous reports about the potential cancellation of the Afghan resettlement program, especially following the change in leadership under President Donald Trump. The three-month suspension of Afghan refugee admissions under the Trump administration has led to further uncertainty about the future of the program.

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