During a contentious exchange on CBS’s “Face the Nation” Sunday morning, January 26, 2025, Vice President JD Vance defended President Trump’s decision to halt a refugee program that has left hundreds of Afghan refugees unable to reach the United States, sparking immediate confusion and concern among lawmakers and humanitarian organizations.
The program’s suspension, initially expected to take effect Monday, has already disrupted travel plans for refugees previously approved to enter the country. Among those affected are more than 1,600 Afghan nationals who assisted U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan, according to Associated Press reports.
The interview grew heated when host Margaret Brennan pressed Vance about his previous support for properly vetted refugees who had aided American forces. “And now that we know that we have vetting problems with a lot of these refugee programs, we absolutely cannot unleash thousands of unvetted people into our country,” Vance responded.
Under Operation Allies Welcome, the U.S. government has conducted extensive security screening of Afghan refugees, including biometric and biographic checks by multiple intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Most Afghan arrivals receive humanitarian parole for two years, while those with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) are admitted as lawful permanent residents. The program also provides medical care, housing, and resettlement assistance at military facilities before refugees transition to their final destinations.
Vance highlighted the case of Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, an Afghan national arrested in Oklahoma City for allegedly plotting a terrorist attack planned for Election Day. According to Justice Department records, Tawhedi was charged with conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and receiving firearms to commit an act of terrorism. FBI investigations revealed he had allegedly taken steps to liquidate family assets, resettle family members overseas, and acquire AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition in preparation for an attack. The FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, Oklahoma City Police Department, and Moore Police Department jointly investigated the case.
Oklahoma state officials, including the Attorney General and the State Department of Education Superintendent, attributed Tawhedi’s presence in the country to the Biden Administration’s refugee resettlement program. The Executive Director for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Catholic Charities, Col. Patrick Raglow, disputed the officials’ claims, stating Tawhedi had not entered through their refugee resettlement program.
During the interview, Vance firmly expressed his opposition to allowing individuals not adequately vetted into American communities, stating that he would not want his own children to live in a neighborhood with such individuals and would not impose that risk on other American families. When Brennan raised the question of whether Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, the Afghan national accused of plotting a terrorist attack, had been radicalized before or after his arrival in the United States, Vance dismissed the distinction as irrelevant. He emphasized that his primary concern was preventing individuals like Tawhedi from entering the country altogether and stated his belief that most Americans share his perspective.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops quickly responded to Vance’s comments. In defending their refugee resettlement work, the USCCB emphasized their longstanding partnership with federal agencies in vetting. Bishop Mark Seitz of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration specifically criticized the new administration’s “enforcement-only policies” and urged bipartisan immigration reform. The exchange highlighted growing tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church over immigration enforcement and refugee resettlement policies.
The interview also veered into economic territory, with Brennan questioning Vance’s ability to articulate how the administration’s executive actions would impact everyday costs. Pressed for specifics, Vance cited broader economic strategies like job creation and capital investment but admitted that tangible effects on prices would take time. Brennan, however, focused on the administration’s campaign promise to lower grocery costs, pointing out that most of Trump’s recent executive orders were unrelated to the economy.
Experts have long cautioned against deflationary policies, warning that significant price drops can destabilize economies, as seen during the Great Depression. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has consistently underscored the importance of maintaining steady inflation, with the agency targeting an annual rate of around 2%. While Vance defended the administration’s approach as forward-looking, Brennan’s pointed questions left unanswered how and when Americans might experience relief at the grocery store.
