Today, the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) at the Urban Justice Center published a policy report on the ongoing importance of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. The report comes just weeks after the news that the U.S. Embassy in Kabul stopped scheduling interviews with SIV applicants due to a lack of available visas. Outlining its purpose and scope, the report makes a strong case for the crucial role the program plays in keeping U.S. troops safe and protecting national security.
Based on news reports and the statements of bipartisan political and military leaders, the report argues that:
- the program protects American troops and government personnel by building trust with local allies, such as interpreters and other essential personnel that U.S. government personnel have to rely on during current and future missions;
- the program protects U.S. national security by strengthening the nation’s credibility and reputation abroad and subverting the narrative of extremists;
- all applicants have to fulfill a number of eligibility requirements and undergo extremely thorough vetting before being considered for resettlement.
To view the policy report, click here: A Question of Honor – The Ongoing Importance of the Afghan SIV Program
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