In response to President Biden’s announcement on Tuesday that the U.S. is on pace to finish its withdrawal from Afghanistan by August 31st, the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project joins its partners in the Evacuate Our Allies Coalition to call on the Biden administration and Congress to continue the evacuation of at-risk Afghans, including allies, human rights defenders, women, and LGBTQ+ community members, until all who wish to leave are protected and safely resettled.
The self-imposed deadline, and inadequate measures to evacuate at-risk people from Afghanistan, have instilled chaos. News of a tragic bombing attack on Thursday that killed at least 170 people, and reports of potential new attacks, underscore the dire need for U.S. military support in ensuring safe passage out of Kabul airport for as long as possible. Protection should not cease until our promise to Afghan allies and at-risk populations is fulfilled.
The courage and bravery that Afghan families are demonstrating during this time should be reciprocated.
The administration must also pursue expedited processing for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). The SIV system has long been plagued with bureaucratic hurdles and growing backlogs for years, made worse under the Trump administration.
The implementation of a safe legal pathway for Afghan people coming to the U.S. must also extend to an overdue revision of border policy. Keeping our ports of entry closed to refugees and asylum seekers conflicts with the fundamental human right to seek safety from persecution through humanitarian relief.
The Florence Project demands that no refugee be left behind, no Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicant be left behind, no Legal Permanent Resident be left behind, no U.S. citizen be left behind.
Thousands of men, women, and children remain in peril. Until everyone is evacuated, we must keep evacuation going.
