Push to bring in Afghan refugees sees support, little opposition from GOP lawmakers

The push by the Biden administration to bring tens of thousands of Afghan refugees into the U.S. is so far seeing support from many Republican lawmakers, with only a handful objecting to the move in response to the collapse of Afghanistan to the Taliban.

"If we have to go more, higher than that, we will certainly do that," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said this week, referring to not only SIV applicants from Afghanistan but also their families. "We're committed to their families as well."  So far, those moves have full-throated backing from many Republicans, which is not unexpected given that only 16 Republicans in the House voted against expanding SIV visas by 8,000 in July.