Congress is preparing to vote on nearly $6 billion in additional refugee funding as new revelations raise serious concerns about the Biden administration’s vetting of Afghan parolees. During a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, top officials admitted that thousands of Afghan evacuees were allowed into the U.S. without names, birth dates, biometrics, or background checks.
Sen. John Cornyn warned that the Biden administration gave an “easy pass” to individuals who would not otherwise qualify for entry. Officials revealed that over 1,300 Afghan nationals were admitted before any identification procedures were performed, and the government later lost track of many evacuees scattered across 176 communities.
Cornyn said 18,000 of those admitted were flagged as known or suspected terrorists, with 2,000 actively being investigated for ties to terrorist organizations.
Sen. Josh Hawley accused the administration of funneling tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to organizations that support Hamas and justify terrorism. He said many of these groups were contracted to help monitor refugees and move them through the parole system but instead misused the funds.
Despite the admissions of failed oversight, Congress is set to vote on new funding for refugee programs that have already expanded under the Biden administration. Total spending rose from $1.9 billion in 2021, the final year of President Donald Trump’s term, to nearly $10 billion in 2023.
The money is directed through the Refugee and Entrant Assistance programs under the Department of Health and Human Services. Refugees receive extensive taxpayer-funded benefits including cash assistance, housing, food aid, education, healthcare, legal support, and job placement services.
Afghan refugees in particular continue to show higher rates of poverty, low labor force participation, and dependence on public assistance. A report from the Migration Policy Institute found that Afghan evacuees are less likely to speak English, hold a high school diploma, or hold a job compared to other immigrants or native-born Americans.
Despite these warning signs, lawmakers remain on track to allocate $5.69 billion for refugee support in fiscal year 2026. Combined with supplemental appropriations, total refugee aid is expected to exceed $8.6 billion this year. Republicans argue that the administration is placing American safety and fiscal responsibility at risk.
