The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation introduced by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) to increase the visa cap for Afghan interpreters and other partners and expedite the visa process. The legislation allows thousands of more Afghans who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war to receive special visas to immigrate to the United States.
The bill would allow 8,000 of the special visas for translators and others who helped the United States and are at risk of retaliation from the Taliban as the U.S. military withdrawal enters its final weeks.
The House passed the measure 407-16 on July 22, sending it to the Senate.
The 8,000 special Immigrant Visa program is available to Afghans who worked with the US government or US military. The United States has granted 26,500 such visas since December 2014.
“For twenty years, Afghan interpreters, guides, and other partners have served alongside U.S. forces, helping us complete our mission. I may not be here today were it not for the bravery and sacrifice of the Afghan men and women who worked with me during my service,” said Rep. Jason Crow. “As we withdraw from Afghanistan, we must honor our promises and protect those that protected us. The ALLIES Act increases the visa cap for our Afghan partners and improves the visa process so that we can process visas safely and efficiently. Time is running out for us to do the right thing and I am grateful for the support of my colleagues to pass this bill.”
The ALLIES Act would:
- Increase the SIV allotment by an additional 8,000 visas to cover all potentially eligible applicants currently in the pipeline;
- Amend the credible threat requirement, removing the necessity for applicants to provide additional paperwork to establish a credible threat we know exists for applicants with verified U.S. government ties;
- Strengthen protections for surviving spouses and children, allowing them to retain eligibility if the primary SIV applicant dies before visa approval;
- Clarify eligibility for certain Afghans who worked for Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) under cooperative agreements and grants with the U.S. government, including those performing critical democracy, human rights, and governance work;
- Remove the requirement for International Security Assistance Force or Resolute Support employment to be “sensitive and trusted”, expanding the field of qualified applicants; and
- Eliminate redundant paperwork by giving the Departments of Homeland Security the flexibility not to require a I-360 petition in cases where the State Department has already determined an applicant’s eligibility through the Chief of Mission process.
More than 20,000 Afghans are in line for special immigrant visas. About half have not completed the initial steps of the application process, so they cannot yet be moved, senior State Department officials said on a call with reporters Wednesday.
“This bill isn’t about partisan politics. It’s about doing what’s right and honoring our promises. Every single day counts. The Senate must pass the ALLIES Act, “ said Representative Jason Crow (Democrat-Colorado), chief sponsor of the bill.
The ALLIES Act will protect Afghans who served alongside U.S. military personnel by expanding the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program and ensuring our partners get to safety as soon as possible. We must keep our promise to our allies so no one is left behind, said Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon.
The Biden administration plans to start flying hundreds of Afghans who are furthest along in the visa process from Kabul to the United States next week, along with their immediate families, said Tracey Jacobson, director of the administration’s Afghanistan task force.
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