US expands Afghan refugee programme amid escalating violence

The State Department says it will expand eligibility of refugee admissions beyond the roughly 20,000 applicants.

The Biden administration has expanded its efforts to take in more at-risk Afghan citizens as a Taliban offensive intensifies in advance of the US military pullout from Afghanistan at the end of the month. The State Department said on Monday it is widening the scope of Afghans eligible for refugee status in the United States to include current and former employees of the US-based news organisations, US-based aid and development agencies and other relief groups that receive US funding. Current and former employees of the US government and the NATO military operation who do not meet the criteria for a dedicated programme for such workers are also covered.