Hundreds of U.S. veterans and former officials are urging President-elect Donald J. Trump to maintain visa and resettlement programs for Afghans at risk of Taliban retribution for aiding the United States during its two-decade-long war in Afghanistan, according to a letter obtained by Reuters.
Organized by #AfghanEvac, a coalition assisting Afghan refugees, the letter emphasizes the moral obligation to protect Afghans who supported American military and civilian operations. “To abandon them now would be a betrayal of the values we fought to defend and the trust built through years of shared struggle and sacrifice,” the letter states, according to Reuters.
Appeal for expanded immigration programs
Reuters reported that the letter calls for additional funding for resettlement programs and urges Congress to approve 50,000 more Special Immigration Visas (SIVs) to address the growing backlog. Current SIV allocations, capped at 50,500, are expected to be exhausted later this year.
Shawn VanDiver, head of #AfghanEvac, expressed concern about potential policy shifts under the incoming administration. “There’s a real fear that President Trump and Stephen Miller will once again erect bureaucratic barriers that slow down or even stop the SIV and refugee resettlement programs,” VanDiver told Reuters.
Miller, who spearheaded restrictive immigration policies during Trump’s first term, is expected to resume a senior advisory role in the new administration. Critics argue that such policies, including “extreme vetting,” contributed to delays in SIV processing, leaving thousands of Afghans in limbo.
Support and resistance within Trump’s team
Not all within Trump’s circle share a hardline stance on the issue. Michael Waltz, Trump’s incoming national security adviser and a former U.S. special forces officer who served in Afghanistan, has been a vocal supporter of the SIV program. Waltz’s office did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment.
Veterans, including notable figures such as Jack McCain, son of the late Senator John McCain, are among the over 380 signatories of the letter. VanDiver plans to send the letter to Trump’s transition team on Friday and deliver it to congressional leaders next week.
Continuing challenges for Afghan allies
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, more than 183,000 at-risk Afghans and their families have been resettled in the United States, according to the State Department. However, tens of thousands remain in Afghanistan, fearing retaliation despite the Taliban’s stated amnesty policy.
A State Department official told Reuters that over 20,000 SIV applications are in process, excluding family members. Approximately 40 percent of completed applications have been rejected, underscoring the challenges faced by many seeking refuge.
As pressure mounts, advocates hope the bipartisan plea will prompt Trump and Congress to uphold commitments to Afghan allies, ensuring their safety and honoring promises made during America’s longest war.
