WASHINGTON — More than 100 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed a letter urging the House Homeland Security Committee to allocate an additional 20,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals who worked alongside American forces during the two-decade war in Afghanistan.
The bipartisan request, led by Representatives Zach Nunn and Jason Crow, calls for the visa expansion to be included in the 2026 federal budget. The lawmakers warn that these Afghan allies face severe threats from the Taliban due to their past support for the United States and emphasized that granting sufficient visas is a “vital” step to ensure their safety.
“These visa holders played a critical role in supporting U.S. national security and democratic efforts in Afghanistan,” the letter states. “Securing sufficient visas is not just a matter of policy, it’s a matter of life and death for our wartime allies.”
Members of Congress stressed that many SIV applicants have already passed extensive security vetting processes and remain at significant risk from the Taliban, ISIS, and other militant groups. Lawmakers cautioned that failing to act would amount to abandoning America’s wartime partners.
Meanwhile, Afghan applicants stranded in third countries say they are under mounting pressure. In Pakistan, where many have taken refuge, several face threats of deportation amid tightening immigration enforcement.
“My father worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. After the collapse, we had to flee,” said one applicant currently in Pakistan. “We don’t have valid visas here anymore. We can’t afford to renew them. The threat of being deported is real, and we urge the United States not to forget us and to expedite our cases.”
In northern California, some Afghan refugees recently received notices from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security warning them to prepare for possible removal, NBC News reported earlier this week.
Since 2009, more than 170,000 Afghans have resettled in the U.S. under the SIV program, including approximately 47,000 principal applicants and 123,000 of their family members, according to official government data.
The new visa request comes amid rising concerns over the fate of those left behind and growing pressure on the Biden administration to address backlogs and delays in the SIV process. Afghan advocacy groups say the delays have left thousands in limbo, vulnerable to retaliation and persecution.
