Press Release

 

 

For Immediate Release
Contact: Dan Gordon , 617-651-0841
June 24, 2021

**Afghan Evacuation Plan an Opportunity to Keep our Promises**

** **

**WASHINGTON, D.C.**- In a critical move for ensuring the safety of
U.S. allies, the Biden administration is preparing to relocate tens of
thousands of Afghans who aided U.S. troops and civilian efforts to safe
locations outside Afghanistan as the U.S. withdraws.

Afghan allies and their families will reportedly

be relocated to third countries while their U.S. visa applications are
processed, although it remains unclear where applicants would wait,
which countries have agreed to take them or when evacuations will take
place.

While many of these Afghans are eligible for Special Immigrant Visas
(SIVs), applicants currently face a backlog of more than 18,000, not
counting an estimated 53,000 family members.

Time is of the essence for Afghan allies and their families, who
continue to face threats from the Taliban for their work with the U.S.
With the September deadline for U.S. troop withdrawal nearing, the
danger to these allies is only increasing. Veterans and national
security leaders have
joined SIV recipients

to underscore the need for an immediate evacuation plan. The Forum
recently published a fact sheet

explaining the context and urgency of the situation, and another on
Special Immigrant Visa programs
.

"This is wonderful news for the thousands of Afghans who have put their
lives on the line for us, and signals to our allies across the world
that the U.S. keeps its promises," said

**Ali Noorani, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum**.
"We look forward to hearing more details on where, when and how
evacuations will proceed. Given the SIV backlog and lengthy process,
Congress should expedite legislative action and the administration
should consider using humanitarian parole to facilitate the evacuation."

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