Senators Urge Congress To Increase Visas For Afghan Allies

• Senators call for more visas for Afghans who aided U.S. troops.

• 20,000 additional special immigrant visas needed by September.

• Program allows Afghans who assisted Americans to apply for U.S. entry.

Afghan refugees hold placards during a gathering in Islamabad, Pakistan, July 21, 2023. Senators from both parties are urging congressional leaders to ensure that more visas are made available

AP

Senators from both major political parties are urging congressional leaders to ensure that more visas are made available to Afghans who worked alongside U.S. troops before a crucial pathway to safety in the United States closes. In a letter, more than a dozen senators said Congress needs to raise the limit on the number of special immigrant visas for Afghans, with an additional 20,000 visas needed before the end of the fiscal year in September.

The special immigrant visa program allows eligible Afghans who assisted Americans to apply for entry into the U.S. with their families. This includes interpreters for the U.S. military and individuals integral to the American embassy in Kabul. The number of applicants for these visas surged after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, with many Afghans now living in hiding due to the Taliban's return to power.

Advocates have criticized the slow pace of processing visas, but recent improvements have seen more Afghans reaching safe harbor. However, concerns remain that without more visas, many Afghan allies could be left behind, facing danger from the Taliban. Failure to approve additional visas would be a significant blow to those awaiting safety in the U.S., with hundreds of thousands of Afghan allies at risk.

Efforts to provide a permanent pathway to citizenship for Afghan allies faced obstacles last month, highlighting the challenges in Congress over this issue. Senators emphasized the need to uphold the commitment to these individuals who risked their lives to support U.S. troops and diplomats in Afghanistan.