End the ‘mission creep’ of Temporary Protected Status

After the attacks of 9/11, the United States undertook a military operation aimed at dislodging the Taliban government of Afghanistan, which had provided material support and bases to al Qaeda. That immediate goal was achieved relatively quickly.

What came next was a classic case of mission creep. The U.S. maintained a costly military presence (in terms of dollars and American lives) that lasted for the next two decades. Ultimately, we and the Afghan people failed to replace the Taliban with a viable alternative, leading to President Joe Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from that country in 2021.