Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) voted to advance bipartisan legislation that helps ensure the United States meets its commitments to those who served alongside U.S. servicemembers in Afghanistan as interpreters, drivers, security personnel, and other aides by providing safety and a new life for them and their families free from the threat of Taliban retribution.
“Afghans who worked alongside our troops have been critical partners in rooting out the networks that supported and perpetrated the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In my conversations with our military leaders and those who bravely served in Afghanistan, credit is often given to these brave Afghan men and women for helping save lives, build communities, and eliminate threats across decades of service,” said Rep. Axne. “As we wind down our military presence in Afghanistan, we must uphold our commitments to these trusted partners and provide them with lives that will be free of Taliban retaliation after years of help fighting terrorism and building indispensable ties. I’m proud to vote for this bipartisan legislation to ensure we keep our commitments to our allies while we responsibly bring our own men and women home.”
The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program provides safety to Afghan aides with at least two years of service, but the application process has been plagued by delays since the program was established and faces severe backlogs, with wait times routinely stretching for years.
The Averting Loss of Life and Injury by Expediting SIVs (ALLIES) Act, which passed the House today with the help of Rep. Axne and a bipartisan majority, would increase the Afghan SIV cap by an additional 8,000 visas, expedite processing, and reduce red tape to protect Afghan citizens who served as interpreters, drivers, guides, and other support roles to the American military in Afghanistan over the last 20 years.
The legislation does not change or compromise any vetting or national security checks already in place in the SIV process.
Earlier this year, Axne and her colleagues passed the Honoring Our Promises through Expedition (HOPE) for Afghan SIVs Act of 2021, which would assist in expediting SIV applications by cutting additional red tape.
Since its creation in 2009, the Afghan SIV program has allowed thousands of Afghans and their families to safely start new lives in the United State free from fear of retribution.
Original source can be found here
