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B Stands for Bonds
Good afternoon,
On Monday, President Biden signed a presidential determination raising the refugee ceiling from 15,000 – a historic low – to 62,500. We applaud the President for taking this first step to rebuild the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. This bold action will help to restore our resettlement system and, as
stated by President Biden, "remove any lingering doubt in the minds of refugees around the world who have suffered so much, and who are anxiously waiting for their new lives to begin."
While it is highly unlikely we will resettle 62,500 refugees before September 30th – the end of the fiscal year – President Biden’s decision to raise the cap will have positive outcomes: not only will tens of thousands of fully-vetted refugees be eligible to reunite with their loved ones, but government agencies and resettlement offices will be able to begin rebuilding and rescaling their operations to serve larger numbers of refugees in the future.
As we celebrate this hard-fought win for refugees, we are also tracking bipartisan legislation that would allocate an additional 4,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals who work alongside the U.S. military in Afghanistan. These Afghans work with U.S. troops in various roles, and may serve as interpreters, security personnel, or drivers. Because of their willingness to aid the U.S. military, they and their families are often at risk of retaliation from the Taliban and other dangerous actors. The SIV program protects our Afghan allies by allowing them to resettle in the U.S. through the refugee program.
American
soldiers in Afghanistan often build strong bonds with their Afghan partners. In fact, it is common for American servicemembers to personally sponsor SIV applications. That said, there is a lengthy backlog of applications awaiting approval, and many applicants wait for years for a decision. While President Biden has ordered a review of the SIV program, we must act quickly to address this backlog in advance of the scheduled troop withdrawal in September, when thousands more of our Afghan allies will be at risk.
We urge President Biden and Congress to work together to honor the promises made to our Afghan partners. In doing so, we not only demonstrate our humanitarian leadership, but also send a clear message to the world that the United States stands with its allies.
Stay healthy and hopeful,
Adam
Adam Estle
Vice President of Field and Constituencies
National Immigration Forum
P.S. I hope some of you were able to join the conversation today on "Immigrants and the American Future" with President George W. Bush, Dr. Russell Moore, and Dr. Yuval Levin. If you missed it (or want to watch again or share), you can check out the video recording here! We’re so grateful for President Bush’s new book "Out of Many, One" and his advocacy for more compassion toward immigrants and refugees.
P.P.S. In case you missed it, my Forum colleagues Kathleen Gillen and Danilo Zak hosted a great Facebook live last Friday, reviewing some of the immigration activities of the first 100 days of the Biden campaign. Check it out here!
NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:
BAPTIST STANDARD: Refugee advocates commend Biden for increased goal
THE HILL: It's time to show that vulnerable refugees are once again an American priority
WASHINGTON POST: The Biden administration starts to unwind Trump’s border legacy
NEW YORK TIMES: U.S. Shows Progress in Moving Migrant Children From Border Jails
WASHINGTON EXAMINER: How we can meet the challenge at the
border
NEWSWEEK: Want to Support the Police? Push for Immigration Reform
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