US Allies In Danger? Visa Interviews Halted For Afghan Translators

A programme designed by the government to help those who assisted United States army in its war efforts in their capacity as interpreters has lapsed. Thousands of Afghanistan citizens applying for US visas face danger as the United States embassy officials in Afghanistan have stopped interviewing them, a Democratic senator said Thursday.

“Allowing this program to lapse sends the message to our allies in Afghanistan that the United States has abandoned them… It’s both a moral and practical imperative that Congress right this wrong immediately,” Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said in a statement.

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), a program of the New York-based Urban Justice Center, reported earlier Thursday that the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program was halted on March 9 "due to a shortage in available visas…leaving thousands of Afghan allies and their families in immediate danger." IRAP policy director, Betsy Fisher highlighted the issue confronting the stranded translators and urged the Congress to act.

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"This devastating development means that thousands of trusted allies will remain in danger, waiting for Congress to allocate visas that were clearly needed months ago…IRAP and champions in Congress were clear last year that, if sufficient visas were not allocated, our allies’ lives would be jeopardized. Our worst fears are proving true,” Fisher, said according to RadioFreeEurope RadioLiberty (rferl.org).

Senator Shaheen, who in 2016, unsuccessfully campaigned with Republican Senator John McCain to pass a law that would extend existing SIV to 4,000 people, responded to the report and raised concerns.

“Thousands of Afghans have put themselves, and their families, at risk to help our soldiers and diplomats accomplish the U.S. mission and return home safely. Breaking our promise to keep them safe would be a stain on our nation’s honor and jeopardizes local support in both this, and future, missions,” emphasized Shaheen.

Last year, 1,500 visas were added to the SIV program and it was reauthorized for four years after the passing of the National Defense Authorization Act passed in December. Requirements for Visa entry were also tightened, which were later discussed by John Oliver in a 'Last Week Tonight' segment.

To qualify for SIV, applicants go through lengthy complicated bureaucratic procedures that take at least five years for processing. About 10,000 Afghans applicants are still applying for special visas, but fewer than 1,500 of the visas remain, according to IRAP.