The Biden Administration Plans to Evacuate, Tens of Thousands of Afghan Interpreters and Others who Worked with U.S. Forces during the War, while their Applications for U.S. Entry are Processed.
Planning has Accelerated, in recent days to Relocate Afghans and their families, who assisted Americans during the nearly 20-year-old War to other Countries or U.S. Territories.
The Administration intends to carry out the Evacuation later this summer, likely in August.
No Country or Countries for the Planned Temporary Relocation have been settled on.
Evacuating Afghans to a U.S. Territory, however, is seen as Complicated because it could lead to the Visa Applicants having greater Legal Rights as they are Vetted.
The White House has begun Briefing Lawmakers on the Outlines of the Plans.
The Administration has begun to Identify a Group of interpreters to be Relocated Outside of Afghanistan before U.S. Completes its Drawdown by September.
Those Individuals have already begun the Process of applying for Special Immigrant Visas available to Afghans who have Worked with the U.S. The Administration Relocation efforts would Comply with U.S. Consular Law and would be Coordinated with Congress.
The White House is Planning for a Variety of Scenarios including additional Relocation or Evacuation Options, if Necessary.
With U.S. and NATO Forces facing a Sept. 11th Deadline to leave Afghanistan, the Biden Administration has faced increased Pressure from Lawmakers, Veterans, and Others, to Evacuate Thousands of Afghans. “We have a moral obligation to protect our brave allies who put their lives on the line for us, and we’ve been working for months to engage the administration and make sure there’s a plan, with few concrete results,” Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI-3rd District), said during a House Hearing last week.
As part of its Plan, the White House will also push to Surge Resources to help process Special Immigration Visa Applications to help those who Remain in Afghanistan after the U.S. Military Drawdown but want to Leave for the U.S.
The Administration is looking to Work with Congress to find Quick Fixes to make the Application Process more Efficient including Eliminating Duplicative Paperwork and Adjusting Requirements that do Not impact National Security.
The move to Accelerate Plans to Relocate Afghans who helped the U.S. effort comes as Biden is set to Meet, on Friday, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation.
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA, 6th District), who has been pushing the Administration to move more Quickly on the Issue, said Thursday, he had Not yet seen Details of the White House Plan.
“As a Marine, I want to see a specific plan,” Moulton said. ““I want to see an operational plan to know how this is going to unfold and have confidence that it will be successful.”
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
