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Afghan Allies Facing Visa Program Exhaustion Amid Congressional Negotiations
Negotiations to increase the number of available slots, including discussions for an additional 20,000 visas, are currently underway in Congress amidst debates over funding for the federal government.
Afghan people who aided the U.S. during its two-decade-long war in Afghanistan and remain stranded in the country may soon lose the opportunity to escape if the visa program reserved for them runs out of availability. The State Department-administered Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, designed for Afghan allies, could deplete its visa supply as early as this summer, raising concerns for those awaiting resettlement, reported Military.com.
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A bipartisan group of 15 senators, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), has initiated efforts to salvage the program. In a letter addressed to Senate leadership on Thursday, the group urged lawmakers to fulfill promises made to Afghan allies still stranded in the country. The senators emphasized the urgency of expeditiously processing SIV applications, particularly in light of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s subsequent takeover.
Credible reports of hundreds of Afghans being killed while awaiting SIV application processing have further intensified the need for action, the senators noted. The group stressed Congress’s responsibility to ensure that visas are available to all eligible applicants, including surviving spouses of deceased Afghan allies.
Efforts to include 20,000 additional visas in the new government spending bill have encountered hurdles, with accusations directed at House Republicans for obstructing progress. However, recent indications suggest a potential softening of stance from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), according to the Military.com report.
The SIV program, established in 2009, aimed to provide Afghans who served alongside the U.S. military with an opportunity to resettle in the United States. Nevertheless, the program has faced challenges, including slow processing times exacerbated during the final days of the U.S. military’s presence in Afghanistan.
While the State Department has made efforts to improve processing times, around 1,000 applications are approved monthly. Despite this progress, the accelerated pace poses the risk of exhausting visa availability, with approximately 7,000 slots remaining. A State Department spokesperson emphasized the necessity for congressional action to raise the visa cap, underscoring the obligation to Afghan allies who sacrificed for the United States and urging against their abandonment.
