In a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing today, Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation, reinforced the importance of the State Department's commitment to protect Afghans at risk to Secretary of State Antony Blinken:
Rep. Levin: Obviously, you've heard a lot of our concerns today regarding Afghans seeking refuge in the United States and elsewhere. I want to start there. What commitments has the Administration secured from third countries to host Afghans for a sufficient duration to allow the Administration to process their SIV, P-1, P-2 visas, or humanitarian parole requests?
Sec. Blinken: We've secured a number of agreements that would allow, as Afghans come out of the country – SIV applicants, potential refugees – where they could go to those countries, and we could engage in the processing especially in regard to SIVs. As you know, with a 14-step process, it is very hard to complete that. There are parts we could not possibly complete remotely in Afghanistan. So, we do need to get them to third countries where we can complete that.
Rep. Levin: Is the capacity enough, or do we need more?
Sec. Blinken: I think the current capacity is enough but that's something we're going to look very carefully at. Of course, much depends at the ongoing ability of people to leave Afghanistan and to get to these countries.
Rep. Levin: I want to stay on the topic of Afghans who need protection right now. U.S. officials have stated that their commitment to Afghans at risk, such as civil society workers, human rights defenders, women's rights activists, journalists and others will not end with the withdrawal of U.S. personnel. Deciding where to draw these lines is super difficult. Who else, specifically, is the Biden Administration defining as "at risk," and how does the State Department intend to support them?
Sec. Blinken: You're right, it is very challenging. In the summer, besides the SIV program, we put in place the so-called P-2 category for Afghans who didn't meet the requirements of the SIV program but who had nonetheless worked. For example, NGOs, American news organizations, and other institutions but not directly for the U.S. government so that they could qualify for the SIV. Of course, the general refugee program is available to people so if they can get out of Afghanistan, which is what we're working on, they can go to a third country and apply for refugee status. But, we're particularly focused on Afghans at risk and the ones most at risk are people who've what they've done, what they've said or who they are could be a real threat to the new government.
Source:https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-reinforces-need-protect-risk-afghan-refugees-blinken-hearing
