16-05-2025
As Trump tells some Afghan war allies to leave US, the Alaska Legislature is asking for more
Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, speaks on the House floor on Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
On Monday, the Trump administration announced that it is canceling permission for about 9,000 Afghanistan refugees to remain in the United States, including some who aided America's war effort in Afghanistan.
The move came eight days after the Alaska House of Representatives voted unanimously to approve a resolution that asks the administration to resume evacuation flights from that country. The state Senate is considering that resolution as well.
House Joint Resolution 13, from Rep. Will Stapp, R-Fairbanks, asks federal officials 'to resume processing stalled applications by Afghan allies' and to reinstate evacuation flights 'for applicants with approved special immigrant visas and their families, including efforts to overcome logistical barriers and diplomatic negotiations.'
The resolution doesn't address the Trump administration's actions; the resolution was developed before those were announced.
Speaking on the House floor, Stapp said he served two tours of duty in the Iraq War and saw the bravery of local interpreters and police officers who worked with members of the American military despite threats to their lives.
'This resolution requests that our federal partners expedite special immigration visas so that we can look to bring as many of those people who stood shoulder to shoulder with us during our time at war to the United States so we can fulfill the promises that we made to them before they too suffer the same fate … that so many have already suffered,' he said.
HJR 13 is in the Senate State Affairs Committee and becomes final only if approved by the Senate and the House.
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