OKLAHOMA CITY (June 5, 2025) — Shortly after President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation effectively banning Afghan nationals from entering the United States, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is demanding the removal of thousands of Afghan nationals approved by Gov. Kevin Stitt for “resettlement” here.
The proclamation follows President Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order titled “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” which directed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other Cabinet officials to identify countries “for which vetting and screening information is so deficient” that restrictions are warranted.
“At great risk to public safety, Gov. Stitt partnered with the Biden Administration to import thousands of poorly vetted Afghan refugees to our state,” Drummond said. “Adding insult to injury, Gov. Stitt illegally directed millions of our tax dollars to pay for resettlement expenses. Now that President Trump has acted in the best interests of the United States by fully restricting Afghan nationals, I am demanding that Gov. Stitt reject the approval he gave to the Biden Administration so all Afghan refugees can be removed from Oklahoma.”
Drummond noted that, under the new policy, none of the Afghan nationals currently living in Oklahoma would be eligible to enter the United States.
“The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colo. has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas,” the President said, in reference to the proclamation. “As President, I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people.”
Drummond underscored the security threat posed by the poorly vetted Afghan refugees by highlighting two recent incidents of violence involving Afghan refugees that drew national media attention. Jamal Wali, an Afghan who served as an interpreter for the U.S. military, attempted to murder two police officers in Virginia before being killed by their return fire. Both officers were shot and wounded but survived the attack.
The other incident made headlines across the country when the FBI announced the arrest of two Afghan refugees plotting an ISIS mass shooting in Oklahoma on Election Day last November. Drummond condemned Stitt at the time for having partnered with the Biden Administration to bring the perpetrators to Oklahoma.
“President Trump is absolutely right about the threat that is posed by foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, which absolutely includes the thousands of Afghan refugees now living in Oklahoma,” Drummond said. “It is only by the grace of God that neither of the two recent incidents resulted in the loss of innocent life. Every day Gov. Stitt provides sanctuary to this group of poorly vetted Afghan nationals is a day he puts innocent lives at risk.”
