Thomas Massie says he opposed bill that relaxed vetting for Afghan immigrants amid DC shooting

WASHINGTON, DC: Amid rising tensions following the tragic shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, Rep Thomas Massie has rallied behind Republicans who blamed Biden-era immigration policies.

Massie defended his vote against a House measure expanding visas for Afghan immigrants.

Thomas Massie's tweet after the shooting

Taking to X on Thursday, Massie shared a screenshot of a report by USA Today, highlighting that the US House, including most of the Republicans, had voted to ease vetting and increase visas for Afghan nationals wanting to enter the US during the Biden administration.

He noted that while most of the lower chamber voted in favor of the measure, he was one of 16 Republicans who voted against it.

The screenshot was accompanied by a caption, “Please pray for our National Guardsmen and their families. The news probably won’t tell you this: the US House of Representatives voted to relax vetting and increase visas for Afghan nationals seeking to enter the United States during the Biden administration, but I voted no.”

Kristi Noem's post against Biden administration

Massie’s tweet was a repost of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s post, where she wrote, “The suspect who shot our brave National Guardsmen is an Afghan national who was one of the many unvetted, mass paroled into the United States under Operation Allies Welcome on September 8, 2021, under the Biden Administration.”

“I will not utter this depraved individual’s name. He should be starved of the glory he so desperately wants.”

“These men and women of the National Guard are mothers, fathers, sisters, daughters, children of God, carrying out the same basic public safety and immigration laws enshrined in law for decades.”

“The politicians and media who continue to vilify our men and women in uniform need to take a long hard look in the mirror.”

“Bryon and I will be praying hard for these two National Guardsmen, their families, and every American who puts on uniform to defend our freedom.”

Trump links Afghan arrivals to security risks

Reacting to the tragic event, President Donald Trump declared the shooting “a heinous assault … an act of evil, an act of hatred and an act of terror.”

 In the video message, he stated that “every single alien who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden be re-examined.”

He further insisted, “We must take all necessary measures to ensure the removal of any alien from any country who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.”

“Based on best available information, the Department of Homeland Security is confident that the suspect in custody is a foreigner who entered our country from Afghanistan… He was flown in by the Biden administration in September 2021,” Trump announced.

He further claimed, “The last administration let in 20 million unknown foreigners from all over the world.”