A group of American senators have expressed serious concerns over a decision which makes individuals who supported terrorist organizations eligible for immigration to the United States. 

In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken released on Tuesday, Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) led his colleagues, including Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), to ask for explanation over a determination that allows individuals who provide “insignificant material support” or “limited material support” to terrorist organizations from admission into the United States. 

On June 8, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State determined that they will no longer bar such individuals, that critics say can alter immigration policy and affect the security of the United States.

“Under federal law, persons who have engaged or assisted in terrorist activities are generally ineligible to immigrate to the United States,” the senators highlighted, saying that the June 8 Determination broadly permits the admission of foreign individuals who provided material support to terrorist organizations that the Biden Administration deems insignificant or limited.

“The timing of the June 8 Determination -- nearly a year after the Administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan -- also raises questions. If its intent is to ensure that Afghan refugees are able to gain asylum in the United States, there is no explanation regarding why this decision was not made months ago with prudent restrictions limiting its application to Afghan refugees,” they said, asking the administration to provide a detailed description of the Afghan nationals to whom the decision is applied and provide examples of their support for the designated terrorist organizations.