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Roughly 2,500 Afghans who helped the U.S. army are headed to Fort Lee, Virginia, to finish their particular immigrant visa utility course of, in keeping with an NSC notification seen by CBS Information and confirmed by a senior Congressional supply.
The memo, despatched from the State Division to Congress, says the primary spherical of the SIV candidates shall be quickly housed at Fort Lee whereas they end the vetting course of. There, they will endure medical screening and the “remaining administrative necessities,” the doc states.
The Biden administration introduced “Operation Allies Refuge” this previous Thursday to help Afghans who helped the U.S. in the course of the 20-year struggle and now face threats from the Taliban.
President Biden this month stated the withdrawal shall be full by August 31, sooner than the preliminary September 11 deadline. U.S. Central Command says that effort is already 95% full.
With the Taliban gaining floor in current weeks, there may be mounting stress from lawmakers and human rights teams to evacuate Afghans who aided the U.S. army, in addition to any speedy relations who may be in danger. In accordance with the nonprofit No One Left Behind, over 300 interpreters and their kin have been killed due to their affiliation with the U.S.
“Our message to these men and women is evident: There’s a dwelling for you in the US for those who so select, and we’ll stand with you simply as you stood with us,” President Biden stated earlier this month.
The latest report from the State Division on the progress of SIV utility reveals there are nonetheless 16,000 functions in course of — and that quantity does not embody candidates’ relations who’re additionally eligible. By some estimates, 70,000 Afghans who both labored with or have a member of the family who labored with Individuals might now be at risk.
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