US Senators Condemn Reported Trump Administration Plan to Relocate 1,100 Afghan Allies to Congo

Senators Merkley and Duckworth condemn a plan to move 1,100 Afghan evacuees from Qatar to the DRC, calling for protected resettlement for US military allies.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 9:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Khaama Press

Lawmakers Label Proposed Refugee Transfer Ethical Violation

United States Senator Jeff Merkley has issued a sharp rebuke following reports that the Trump administration intends to move Afghan nationals from a temporary camp in Qatar to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Merkley described the proposed relocation as evil and wrong, emphasizing that the group consists of families of US service members and individuals who served as interpreters and special operations support. These allies, who risked their lives for American forces during the war in Afghanistan, now face the prospect of being sent to a region currently destabilized by internal conflict.

Vulnerability of Evacuees in High Risk Conflict Zones

The humanitarian implications of the transfer are significant, with hundreds of children among the 1,100 evacuees currently residing in the Qatar holding facility. Critics of the plan argue that relocating vulnerable refugees to the Democratic Republic of Congo would place them in immediate danger. The move is viewed by many as a departure from the initial commitment made during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which promised long term resettlement in secure environments. Instead, these allies find themselves in a state of legal and physical insecurity as US immigration policies continue to shift.

Stalled Resettlement Programs Fuel Mental Health Crisis

For the thousands of Afghans stranded in transit countries like Qatar, the delay in permanent relocation has created a worsening humanitarian situation. Advocacy groups report that prolonged stays in temporary facilities are leading to severe mental health issues and forced family separations. While Qatar has served as a primary hub for evacuees since the 2021 withdrawal, the lack of progress in processing Special Immigrant Visas or other refugee status applications has left the population in a state of permanent limbo. The uncertainty is compounded by the deep economic isolation and poverty currently affecting their home country.