Rubio: Afghans Stranded in Qatar Currently Not Allowed to Enter the U.S.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Afghan nationals currently staying at the Al Udeid transit facility in Qatar are not permitted to enter the United States at this time.

Speaking before Congress, Rubio stated that an executive order issued by President Donald Trump has restricted the entry of Afghan citizens into the United States.

He added that the U.S. government is in discussions with several countries to relocate hundreds of Afghan nationals to safe third countries, aiming to prevent their return to Afghanistan.

Rubio also said that the administration will work with U.S. lawmakers to find long-term resettlement solutions for those affected.

His remarks come as hundreds of Afghans who were evacuated following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan continue to await decisions on their immigration and resettlement cases in various countries.