[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – During a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) slammed the Trump Administration’s move to cancel the flights of nearly 1,660 Afghans allies, including family members of active-duty U.S. military personnel, under President Donald Trump’s order suspending U.S. refugee programs:

“I am incredibly disheartened that the Trump Administration is cancelling the flights of nearly 1,660 Afghan refugees who were already cleared by the U.S. government to resettle in the United States. These allies aided our troops in Afghanistan. Whatever you think about the conflict there – the risk to these Afghan allies is so dire and dangerous…And yet, those Afghan partner forces and their families are stuck at the risk of harm in areas around the world. Our nation has a sacred promise to do right by the men and women who risk their lives for our freedoms and democracy – and do right for their families. That includes the Afghan translators, the guards, and others who put their backs in targets and became our loyal friends. I will keep fighting to ensure they are resettled in the United States and push back against any further attempt by the Administration to renege on our promises to our servicemembers, veterans, and Afghan allies.”

Blumenthal is a staunch fighter for ensuring Afghan allies have the aid and freedom they earned and deserve, including a path to permanent legal status under the Blumenthal-sponsored Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghans who sought refuge in the United States to apply for permanent legal residency after undergoing additional vetting.

Video of Blumenthal’s full statement on the Trump Administration’s move to cancel the flights of Afghan allies is available for download here.