Our Afghan allies desperately need urgent help.
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

 

 

 

**B Stands for Botched**

Good afternoon,

Over the last several days, we have heard gut-wrenching reports

about the deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan as the Taliban regains
control of the country. As the U.S. proceeds with its planned military
withdrawal, many vulnerable Afghans left behind now fear for their lives
and are desperate to escape.

Afghan nationals have provided critical assistance to the U.S. over the
last 20 years as interpreters, advisors, embassy staff, security
personnel and in other key roles. Afghans have also supported USAID and
provided leadership in development projects related to health, education
and women's empowerment. These Afghan allies and partners are now in
immediate danger of retribution from the Taliban.

In April, President Biden announced his plan to withdraw all U.S. troops
from Afghanistan. Since then, advocates have called on
the administration

to quickly evacuate our Afghan allies and their families, but minimal
progress has been made. Congress voted

to increase the number of Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)
available, but backlogs in processing have left approximately 18,000
applicants awaiting resettlement. Only 2,000

approved SIV applicants have arrived in the U.S. since July. The
Department of State recently created a Priority-2

refugee designation for certain Afghan nationals who do not qualify for
SIVs. However, in order to qualify for P-2 designation, applicants are
required to first leave Afghanistan and apply from a third country. With
the Taliban in control of key border crossings and neighboring countries
closing their borders , it
has grown increasingly difficult for Afghans to flee.  

Now that the Taliban has overtaken the Afghan government, a full-blown
humanitarian crisis has erupted. On Monday, 46 senators sent a
bipartisan letter

to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary
Alejandro Mayorkas, urging the administration to use humanitarian parole
to save Afghan women leaders who are now under threat from the Taliban.

The situation is dire. Faith and national security leaders have
responded to the crisis, urging President Biden to act urgently. "The
Biden administration's blind eye to Afghan nationals is a stain on the
United States," said Ali Noorani
,
President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum.

Rick "Ozzie" Nelson, former Director of the Office of Combating
Terrorism, National Security Council staffer and U.S. Navy helicopter
pilot in Afghanistan, said
: "For months, the
Council on National Security and Immigration
has asked the Biden
administration to act swiftly and protect Afghans who served alongside
American servicemembers, diplomats, and aid workers. While our embassy
in Kabul has been shuttered, our moral obligation to assist our Afghan
allies remains."

In a letter

to President Biden, members of the Evangelical Immigration Table

wrote, "Our government has a particular obligation to those who are now
facing threats upon their lives due to their service to the United
States, and to go back on our commitment to them would be a moral
failing with reverberating consequences for decades to come."

Our allies and other vulnerable Afghans (like the small Christian
population
)
are in grave danger. We must continue to pressure the Biden
administration to fulfil our moral obligation

until a safe evacuation has been completed. Please join us in taking
action on this important issue.

Stay healthy and hopeful,

Adam

**Adam Estle**
Vice President of Field and Constituencies
National Immigration Forum 

[link removed]

**NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:**

****

**NBC NEWS:**The coming U.S. political fight over accepting refugees
from Afghanistan

**BAPTIST NEWS GLOBAL:**'Humanitarian catastrophe' unfolding in
Afghanistan

**REUTERS:**U.S. plans to double number of asylum officers in Biden
border overhaul

**USA TODAY:** Biden administration appeals federal judge's 'Remain in
Mexico' policy reinstatement ruling

**MIAMI HERALD:**Haitian advocates appeal for immediate end to
deportations and expansion of TPS

 

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