FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug 15, 2024
Contact: Jason Lucas | jason.lucas@globalrefuge.org
Washington, D.C. – Today marks the three-year anniversary of Afghanistan falling under Taliban control and the beginning of the U.S. military withdrawal from the country. Since the withdrawal, the Biden administration has helped more than 150,000 Afghan allies relocate to the U.S., with a majority receiving short-term protection as humanitarian parolees.
As part of an historic mission dubbed Operation Allies Welcome, these Afghan families have found safety, begun to rebuild their lives, and contributed to their new communities with the help of resettlement nonprofits like Global Refuge, faith groups, veterans, volunteers, and other members of the American public. The Biden administration has also assisted Afghans here and abroad through a series of Afghan Support Center events. Since last spring, these USCIS-hosted events have helped connect nearly 20,000 Afghans to resettlement, legal, and family reunification services in 20 cities across the U.S.
Unfortunately, thousands more Afghans remain in Afghanistan at the mercy of the repressive Taliban regime, many of whom are the loved ones of those evacuated to the U.S. Despite many Afghans reaching safety in the U.S, roughly 90 percent of those applying for permanent relief in the form of asylum or Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) are awaiting approval. Afghan allies who were left behind in Afghanistan also find themselves in limbo due to a backlog of over 140,000 SIV applications.
The following is a statement by Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge – a national refugee resettlement agency that has assisted approximately 14,000 Afghans since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan:
“This third anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan represents a bittersweet occasion. We are profoundly grateful that thousands of Afghans have found safe haven and a sense of belonging as they rebuild their lives in welcoming communities across this country. We have been heartened to see them achieve milestone after milestone, contribute to the fabric of our society, and ultimately become our close friends and extended family.
Yet, we also recognize the heartbreaking reality that many cherished family members remain stranded abroad in harm’s way, unable to overcome the barriers, burdens, and backlogs standing between them and safety. Many find themselves caught up in various forms of legal limbo, representing a significant source of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. Our sincere hope is that at-risk Afghans find safety, that families are reunited swiftly, and that they find stability through lasting legal protections.
We commend the Biden administration for efforts to ensure successful resettlement, particularly its Afghan Support Centers, which have provided crucial resources and services to tens of thousands of our Afghan neighbors. At the same time, we reaffirm that more work remains to be done if we are to truly honor our promise of protection. The Biden administration and lawmakers must work together to expand pathways of protection for our Afghan allies abroad. We also call on Congress to pass the Afghan Allies Protection Act and the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act, bipartisan pieces of legislation that will provide long-term stability and legal status to Afghans in the U.S. and in Afghanistan.”
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About us:
Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. For 85 years, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis. We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, welcome and respite services for asylum seekers, economic empowerment and employment, and family unification for unaccompanied children. To date, we have served over 800,000 people from around the globe. At Global Refuge, welcoming newcomers isn’t just our duty—it’s an inherent part of our identity, rooted in our Lutheran heritage and inspired values, and serving as a testament to our unwavering commitment to those in search of refuge.
