The Ongoing Betrayal of Our Afghan Allies

Sadat’s situation is common for Afghans living in the U.S., nearly 200,000 of whom arrived in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Tens of thousands were admitted through humanitarian parole, a temporary legal status for evacuees. Others arrived as holders of Special Immigrant Visas, or SIVs, reserved for allies who assisted the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan. To Afghans and their supporters in the U.S., including many American veterans with whom they worked alongside—an alliance that puts those who assisted U.S. forces at risk now that the Taliban has resumed control—the administration’s policies and congressional inaction are a betrayal of trust.

Speaking in a press call, Sharif Ali, the president of the International Refugee Assistance Project, a legal aid and advocacy organization that represents refugees said, “As we take stock of whether the U.S. has lived up to its obligations and promises to the Afghans who worked and served alongside American military personnel and partners—often at great personal risks—the clear answer, unfortunately, is a resounding no.”

In July, a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration must allow the family members of asylum seekers, like Sadat’s wife, to be permitted to enter the U.S. The State Department has appealed the decision and requested a motion to stay the court’s order.