As the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, attacks against Afghan nationals who cooperated with the U.S. military are rising exponentially. Action must be taken now to ensure all who have been waiting years to relocate to the United States are finally able to do so. We must urge our elected leaders and the Biden Administration to provide refuge for Afghans fleeing violence and persecution by expanding access to the U.S. resettlement program.

Since 2002, the U.S. Government has employed Afghan allies to serve alongside U.S. troops, diplomats, and other government employees. Regrettably, these allies and their families soon became the targets of anti-American violence. They continue to be threatened, abducted, and targeted for their service to the U.S. and NATO mission.

The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program provides a path to safety for Afghans who worked with U.S. forces, diplomats, and other government personnel, and who, as a result of that affiliation, suffer direct threats to their safety. As the U.S. armed forces anticipates its final withdrawal in September, we know that we cannot simply abandon them. 

To that end, LIRS has joined several veterans’ groups, resettlement partners, and members of Congress in calling upon the Biden administration to urgently evacuate American-affiliated Afghans and their families. In May, we delivered a letter to top White House officials calling for emergency evacuation, and we will continue to put pressure on President Biden until all of our allies are safe.  We are now asking people of conscience to join us.

Send a message to President Biden and Congress today! Urge them to provide urgent humanitarian protections, including evacuation for those who have put their lives on the line for our country and expansion and expedited access to the U.S. resettlement program for Afghan refugees.