WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) today spoke on the House floor to urge the Biden Administration to immediately evacuate our interpreters in Afghanistan.
“I rise today to address the dire situation of our interpreters in Afghanistan, where we are over halfway through our planned withdrawal. Meanwhile, almost 20,000 Afghans who worked with U.S. forces are anxiously awaiting Special Immigrant Visa approval, a process that can take years. Making matters worse, our Kabul embassy suspended visa operations last week due to a surge in Covid cases.
“Mr. Speaker, President Biden must immediately start preparations to evacuate those Afghans to Guam to safely await visa approval. My colleagues and I on the Honoring Our Promises Working Group urged the administration to do so two weeks ago, but we have yet to hear back.
“This is unacceptable. President Biden ended the Remain in Mexico policy for economic migrants but insists on a Remain in Afghanistan policy for Afghans who risked their lives to help American forces. While they wait, the Taliban are hunting them down. Dozens have already been killed while bureaucrats dither. We cannot abandon our Afghan allies to die. We must get them to Guam.
“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield back.”
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