Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton says he is continuing to work with U.S. military veterans to help evacuate Afghans who supported the United States during the war in Afghanistan, accusing the Trump administration of effectively halting relocation efforts for former Afghan allies.
Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, August 23, Moulton sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s immigration policies toward Afghan refugees, calling the suspension of relocation programs “racist” and arguing that the administration does not want “anyone except white people” entering the United States.
Moulton, a former U.S. Marine who served in Iraq and has long advocated for Afghan wartime allies, said many interpreters, security personnel and other Afghans who worked alongside American forces remain at risk of Taliban retaliation after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“The first thing we’re doing is continuing to work behind the scenes with veterans across the country to get Afghans to safety,” Moulton said, adding that veterans’ groups remain actively involved in helping vulnerable Afghan families relocate through available legal and humanitarian pathways.
He said the second priority is changing U.S. immigration policy so Washington honors its commitment to Afghans who risked their lives alongside American troops. Moulton argued that the United States has a moral obligation to protect those who served with U.S. forces during the two-decade conflict.
The congressman also said he is working to help Democrats regain majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, saying a shift in political control would make it possible to reverse the administration’s immigration policies affecting Afghan allies.
The remarks come as thousands of Afghans remain stranded after the Trump administration suspended several refugee and immigration pathways, including restrictions affecting Afghan applicants for immigrant visas and refugee resettlement. The administration has also maintained broader entry restrictions on nationals from several countries, including Afghanistan.
Moulton’s comments also follow a recent federal court ruling that struck down the Trump administration’s policy suspending immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Afghanistan. However, Afghan advocacy organizations have warned that the ruling does not automatically reopen the path to the United States and that applicants should wait for official guidance before making travel plans.