At least 300 Afghans arrived in the Philippines on Sunday for temporary stays while awaiting processing for resettlement to the United States, according to Philippine and U.S. officials.
The arrivals are part of an agreement signed between the Philippines and the United States in July, allowing Afghans applying for U.S. Special Immigrant Visas to stay in Manila during the vetting process. The deal has faced opposition from some domestic groups in the predominantly Catholic nation, citing security concerns.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs issued the appropriate Philippine entry visas to these applicants in line with current rules and regulations,” Philippine DFA spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement, emphasizing that the Afghans underwent extensive security vetting by the country’s national security agencies.
A U.S. State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the number as “up to 300” but did not provide further details.
Under the agreement, the U.S. government will cover all costs associated with the Afghans’ stays, including food, housing, medical care, security, and transportation, the Philippine DFA noted. The applicants, who underwent medical screening in Afghanistan, will reside at a facility operated by the U.S. State Department’s Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts.
The Afghans’ stay in Manila will be short-term, with Daza previously stating they could remain for no more than 59 days. During this time, they will be “confined to their billet facility” except for embassy interviews, according to the Philippine DFA.
Tens of thousands of Afghans fled their homeland following the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces in August 2021, which ended America’s longest war, launched in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Many of those who fled were seeking safety after working with U.S. forces and institutions, making them targets under the Taliban’s return to power.
