AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT BACKLASH: USCIS ORDERS GREEN CARD RE‑EXAMS, STATE DEPT HALTS AFGHAN VISAS AS ANDY BARR FACES GOP FIRE

Video of Rep. Andy Barr’s 2021 remarks supporting entry and special visas for Afghan allies resurfaced after the D.C. National Guard shooting allegedly involving an Afghan national. The controversy is shaping Kentucky’s 2026 GOP Senate primary as critics link past resettlement support to vetting failures, while Barr counters that he opposed Biden’s Afghan resettlement funding and backs Trump’s immigration agenda. Meanwhile, federal agencies escalated actions: USCIS ordered re‑examinations of green cards from countries of concern and the State Department paused Afghan passport visas, with the White House signaling broadened application pauses from 19 countries. The story blends political fallout with rapidly tightening vetting and visa policies tied to Operation Allies Welcome.