Tag
special immigrant visa (SIV) program
Afghan Allies Risked Everything for US Missions. Urgent Action Is Needed to Protect Them.
By Demi Hester
Years of bureaucratic delays, policy changes, and geopolitical instability under both the Biden and Trump administrations have left Afghans stranded and vulnerable.
With Foreign Aid Freeze and Immigration Restrictions, US Leaves Afghan Allies in the Cold
By Catherine Putz
Trump's executive orders on aid and immigration have effectively frozen the Afghan SIV program, stranding thousands of Afghans in the process of coming to the United States.
The Hidden Lifeline for Afghans: Remittances
By Kritika Jothishankar and Nara Sritharan
At a time when remittances often double the scale of official aid, it’s imperative to address systemic barriers – including in the United States.
Sentence Handed Down in Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Bribery Case
By Catherine Putz
Jeromy Pittmann was convicted of providing false recommendation letters to more than 20 SIV applicants in exchange for bribes, undermining an already beleaguered program.
Afghan Arrested for Alleged US Election Day Attack Plot
By Catherine Putz
A 27-year-old Afghan national in the U.S. and a juvenile accomplice were arrested on October 7 after allegedly purchasing weapons for an Election Day attack.
Philippines to Host a US Visa Processing Center for up to 300 Afghans Resettling in America
By Jim Gomez
The Philippines will temporarily host Afghans stuck in the lengthy approval process for a special immigrant visa to the United States.
What Is the State of US Assistance to Afghanistan and Afghans?
By Catherine Putz
The U.S. remains the largest donor to the Afghan people, though funding has certainly dwindled since 2021.
In Pakistan, Fears of Deportation Plague Afghan Refugees Waiting for Resettlement
By Mohammad Iqbal Sekandari
The deportation risk faced by many Afghan refugees in Pakistan is rooted in the lengthy U.S. resettlement process. Forced to wait, the risks of deportation mount.
Supply of Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans Dwindling
By Catherine Putz
As the supply of SIVs dwindles, Congress’ present dysfunction all but ensures the program’s imminent collapse.
Security, System Issues, and a Flood of Refugees Make Getting Afghan Allies to Safety a Challenge
By Richard L. Benkin
The process, always slow and cumbersome, is now overwhelmed. Even as cases move through the system, safety remains a grave concern for Afghans forced to wait.
America’s Afghan Allies: How to Help Those Left Behind
By Chetan Peddada and Zack Baddorf
The United States must not forget the Afghan allies it left behind.
A Glimpse at What Went Wrong with the Afghan SIV Process
By Catherine Putz
Two June 2020 State OIG reports illustrate some of the long-known, ever-unresolved issues stymieing the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa process.
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