American Senators call for 20,000 additional visas for Afghan citizens by fiscal year-end

KABUL (Khaama Press): Twelve Republican and Democratic senators from senior positions in the US Congress have requested an increase in the number of special immigrant visas for Afghans who worked with the US government.
The senators said an additional 20,000 visas would be needed for them by the end of the fiscal year. According to the Associated Press, which obtained the letter, the senators told Congress that “this program has saved the lives of thousands of Afghans who served courageously and honourably alongside US soldiers and diplomats in Afghanistan.”
This request comes as Reuters reported that the issuance process for Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) for resettling Afghan allies of America may come to a halt later this year.
The Biden administration has also urged Congress to act more quickly. John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, told reporters on Thursday, “While our war in Afghanistan is over, our commitment to Afghans and our commitment to those who helped us in that war is not over.”
Special Immigrant Visas, or SIVs, allow eligible Afghans to apply for residency in the United States with their families. Eligible Afghans include former employees and translators in the US military and embassy.
Although this program has existed since 2009, the number of Afghan applicants has seen a significant increase since the Taliban took over Afghanistan.
Chris Coons, a Democratic senator, told the Associated Press, “Every day that passes without action by Congress, we endanger the lives of our Afghan colleagues, who deserve our appreciation.”
The US State Department announced recently that since the start of this program in 2021, thousands of eligible Afghans have been issued visas, and more than 30% of all applications have been reviewed.
A State Department spokesperson revealed that 8,000 SIVs remain unallocated, urging Congress to raise the visa cap. Critics decry slow processing, leaving applicants in limbo and danger.