The shooting of two West Virginia National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., by an Afghan national brought here under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) put a harsh spotlight on the politicians who opposed tightening the program’s vetting process.

At the top of that list: New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

The horrific murder of 20-year-old Guardsman Spec. Sarah Beckstrom pushed questions about the Biden administration’s handling of immigrants from war-torn Afghanistan on the front page. But the issue is hardly new.

In September 2021, just weeks after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Senate considered an amendment by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) that would have tightened screening requirements for the tens of thousands of Afghans being rushed through the OAW program.

The amendmen

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