A coalition of five groups that advocate on behalf of US veterans is urging Congress to authorize 4,000 visas for Afghan nationals who have aided US forces and face a constant threat of being killed by terrorists in their homeland, according to a letter to members of Congress released by Human Rights First on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 19th September, 2018) A coalition of five groups that advocate on behalf of US veterans is urging Congress to authorize 4,000 visas for Afghan nationals who have aided US forces and face a constant threat of being killed by terrorists in their homeland, according to a letter to members of Congress released by Human Rights First on Wednesday.
Throughout US military engagement in Afghanistan, thousands of locals have provided mission support as interpreters, translators, cultural advisers, logisticians, and as contractors for the US Embassy, USAID, and other agencies," the letter said. "Many of our wartime allies who remain in Afghanistan live in constant fear that they or their families will be targeted by insurgents. For many the SIV [Special Immigrant Visa] program is their lifeline."
The Afghan SIV program established by Congress in 2009 allows wartime allies in Afghanistan to resettle in the United States, Human Rights First explained in an accompanying press release. In the last three years, Congress has authorized 10,500 visas for Afghan wartime allies.
The letter noted that the Trump administration requested 4,000 Afghan visas in its proposed budget for fiscal 2019, but Congress failed to include the proposal in the latest National Defense Authorization Act and has thus far failed to approve any additional visas.
"Congress should act to allocate a minimum of four thousand additional Afghan SIVs to address the current backlog and protect this lifeline for our Afghan allies," the letter said.
The letter addressed to all members of Congress was signed by High Ground Veterans Advocacy; Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; No One Left Behind; Veterans for American Ideals and Vietnam Veterans of America.
