For Immediate Release
Contact: Dan Gordon, 617-651-0841
July 14, 2021

For Our Afghan Allies, ‘Every Day Is Critical’ 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration today announced it is launching "Operation Allies Refuge" to relocate Afghan allies as the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan nears completion. 

Evacuation flights will begin in the last week of July, per the administration, and further details are being withheld for security reasons.

"It’s good that the administration understands the urgency for our Afghan allies. Every day is critical, and lives are on the line," said Ali Noorani, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. "Every day evacuation is delayed is another day that the Taliban could come knocking. The administration should do everything in its power to begin relocations even sooner than the last week of the month."

Veterans and national security leaders have joined SIV recipients to underscore the need to immediately implement an evacuation plan. The Forum recently published a fact sheet explaining the context and urgency of the situation, and another providing an overview of SIVs.

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