National Guard killing reignites immigration war in Congress as Republicans demand sweeping reforms
In the wake of a tragic shooting that resulted in the death of a National Guard member and left another severely injured, House Republicans are renewing calls for a comprehensive reevaluation of the U.S. immigration system. The alleged shooter, an Afghan refugee who entered the United States in 2021 under “Operation Allies Welcome,” has prompted lawmakers to scrutinize the policies that allowed such individuals into the country. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) expressed a long-standing concern about the immigration process, suggesting that this reexamination should have taken place years ago, particularly following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Fellow Republican lawmakers echo these sentiments, emphasizing the need to reassess who is allowed entry into the U.S. and the potential risks associated with current policies.
Representatives like Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) and Randy Fine (R-Fla.) have voiced strong opinions on the matter, with Hageman warning of a “potential catastrophe” stemming from the Biden administration’s decisions post-Afghanistan withdrawal. Fine took a more aggressive stance, advocating for the expulsion of individuals who harbor anti-American sentiments, regardless of their immigration status. Other Republicans, including Reps. Rich McCormick and Austin Scott of Georgia, have called for a more nuanced approach to immigration reform, suggesting that the system should be adaptable to the country’s evolving needs. McCormick highlighted the importance of a flexible immigration policy that caters to specific labor demands in various sectors, while Scott emphasized the necessity of admitting individuals who align with American values and interests.
The fallout from this incident has also drawn attention from former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to take action by temporarily halting immigration from 19 countries considered high-risk. Trump underscored the importance of national security and the need for rigorous control over who enters the country. As discussions about immigration reform intensify, the tragic events surrounding the National Guard shooting have reignited a contentious debate about the balance between welcoming refugees and ensuring national safety. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges inherent in the U.S. immigration system, prompting lawmakers to seek solutions that prioritize both compassion and security.
House Republicans are calling for the
U.S. immigration system
to undergo new scrutiny after an attack by an Afghan refugee left one National Guard member dead and another fighting for his life.
“I’ve thought that for a long time. I wish we would have done that back in 2018. I wish we would have done it actually 2016, 2018, 2020,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said Tuesday when asked if Congress should reexamine U.S. immigration policies.
Several GOP lawmakers who spoke with Fox News Digital homed in on the migrants and refugees allowed into the country during the Biden administration, of which the
attack suspect
had been a part. The alleged shooter came to the U.S. in 2021 under “Operation Allies Welcome” after the military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan.
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“What we need to revisit is … who we’re going to allow in and who we need to be getting out of our country. When the Biden administration made the decisions that it did after the debacle in Afghanistan, it has created potentially a catastrophe in our country,” Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., said.
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., took a hard-line stance on both legal and illegal immigration when asked about the U.S. system.
“First off, there’s
all the illegals,
but even in legal immigration, we’ve allowed people who hate this country to become legal, become citizens, become visitors. We need to send them all home,” Fine said.
Reps. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., and Austin Scott, R-Ga., both expressed support for immigration in cases that expressly benefited the U.S. but called for more nuanced reform.
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“We’ve been needing reform drastically for decades. One size does not fit all. We should have an immigration system that’s tailor-made for America per year. Some years you need more people in construction, IT, healthcare, agriculture, and some years we need less,” McCormick said.
“And it needs to be a flexible program, not a rigid one that’s based on an antiquated system where we couldn’t use AI to adapt, where we can’t use a process that’s designed by the government to be efficient for the people.”
Scott said legal immigration was an “asset” to the country, but only in cases where people were ready to assimilate to American culture.
“I’m all for legal immigration that admits people that share our interests and our values. We should not allow people that do not share our interests or our values. And the idea that simply because somebody comes to America, that they’re going to change and share our interests and our values, is ridiculous,” Scott said.
“If someone is acting one way in another country, and you bring that person to the United States of America, we should not expect them to change their ways any more than you would expect a criminal in one state to change their ways if they move to another state.”
The Trump administration has also promised action in the wake of the shooting, temporarily pausing all immigration from 19 countries deemed areas of concern to the U.S.
“This heinous atrocity reminds us that we have no greater national security priority than ensuring that we have full control over the people that enter and remain in our country,” President Donald Trump said in comments on Thanksgiving, just after the shooting.
