Bipartisan legislation recently introduced by U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Steve Stivers (R-OH) would authorize additional visas through the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program.
The Afghan SIV program enables translators and diplomatic personnel who worked with U.S. service members in Afghanistan to come to America. However, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul has stopped scheduling interviews because there aren’t enough visas available for the more than 10,000 applicants on a waiting list, many of whom now face threats.
The Keeping Our Promise to Our Afghan Allies Act, H.R. 1544, would authorize an additional 2,500 visas for the Afghan SIV program. More than 14,000 visas have been issued through the program since 2008.
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John McCain (R-AZ) have championed similar legislation in the Senate.
“Supporting our troops is vital to our national security,” Kinzinger said. “But we must also support those who have risked their lives to serve alongside our American armed forces and personnel overseas in order to advance the cause of freedom, and protect the United States.”
“This bipartisan, bicameral effort is a call to action keep this vital program afloat. It’s critical to our efforts in defeating terrorism, and maintaining our foreign relationships around the world. Today, we introduce this legislation to ensure we leave no man behind,” Kinzinger added.
As the U.S. government considers the immigration system, Stivers said, it is important to ensure that it is differentiating between U.S. partners in the region and radical terrorists.
“One way we can do this is through the Special Immigration Visa program,” Stivers added. “The Afghanistan Special Immigration Visa program helps those who have supported the American military and our mission abroad at risk to themselves and their families, and I am proud to support this legislation to allow more visas in the program.”