WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Peter Meijer (R-MI) this week co-led two bipartisan letters calling for action and answers from the Biden Administration following the botched Afghanistan withdrawal.
In the first letter, Rep. Meijer joined Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Jason Crow (D-CO) in calling for the release of humanitarian aid directly to the people of Afghanistan without legitimizing or providing any direct funding to the Taliban. These funds are critical to prevent a catastrophic collapse of Afghanistan’s economy in the aftermath of the withdrawal.
Excerpt from the letter:
“To be clear, we are recommending steps below to provide aid funding to the Afghan people directly - not the Taliban - while also preventing economic collapse and developing a framework to ensure the Taliban uphold its commitments on counterterrorism, access to secondary school for girls, and the formation of an inclusive government.
“No one benefits from a failed state in Afghanistan. While we will continue to press the administration to ensure that we protect the American people from any potential future threats that may emanate from Afghanistan and enable Afghans at special risk of persecution to leave their country, the United States has an equal responsibility to help the many millions more who will stay to survive the winter, to feed their children, and to preserve what can be salvaged of the progress made during the last 20 years.”
The full text of this letter is available here.
Rep. Meijer joined Representative Michael Waltz (R-FL) in leading a second letter demanding answers regarding the continued evacuation of allies, specifically U.S.-trained Afghan Special Security Forces (ASSF).
Excerpt from the letter:
“Since the fall of Kabul on August 15, 2021, and the subsequent evacuation of at-risk Afghans, the ASSF forces have been in limbo. Most are not eligible for the SIV program. Because of their training and relationships with our Special Forces, former-ASSF forces are at grave risk of Taliban reprisals. We have already received reports of their family members tortured and killed in retaliation.
“Their plight deserves urgent attention as they cannot safely return home to Afghanistan. In order to expedite their screening and processing, what personnel and security records has the Department of Defense retained for these individuals from their training, where is it retained, and can this data be shared with the Department of State so they can complete their screening processes?
“Furthermore, since many of these individuals may not qualify for SIV status, can the Department of State, following thorough verification and processing, consider these ASSF forces for a P1 or P2 visa, or any other available humanitarian relief? Are there any statutory hurdles that need to be overcome to provide help?”
Original source can be found here.
