US expands Afghan refugee programme as Taliban surge

dpa Washington As violence in Afghanistan soars, the Biden administration announced Monday that it was expanding the pool of endangered Afghans who can r...

dpa Washington As violence in Afghanistan soars, the Biden administration announced Monday that it was expanding the pool of endangered Afghans who can receive refugee visas, but the system’s complexities may limit who can benefit.The new visa programme comes after demands from Congress, news organisations and human rights groups for greater protection for tens of thousands of Afghans who worked with US entities during the two-decade war and now face potential retaliation from Taliban forces advancing swiftly as US and NATO troops withdraw.Among the newly eligible are Afghans who worked for US nongovernmental organizations, aid programmes and media. Administration officials said they could not estimate how many people would qualify but that it could be tens of thousands.Already, some 20,000 of Afghans who worked as translators for the US military and diplomatic missions are being considered for special immigrant visas or have expressed interest in acquiring them.A first group of about 200 visa recipients arrived at an army base in Virginia last week and another 2,500 or so, including family members, are expected in the coming weeks.Yet many thousands more Afghans say their lives are at risk as the Taliban takes control of more territory.The expanded programme requires the individuals and families to get themselves out of Afghanistan before their cases can be processed - a potential deal-killer for many.A senior administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity in keeping with government protocols, acknowledged that the requirement will be difficult for many to meet. The visa process starts only when the applicants’ employers refer them to the programme; then the applicants must go to a third country. Approval can take a year to 14 months, the official said.The programme is a “unique form of protection to those who are particularly vulnerable as a result of their affiliation with the United States,” the official said.In a separate statement, the State Department outlined the programme for the visas, known as Priority 2 within the US Refugee Admissions Programme.“The US objective remains a peaceful, secure Afghanistan,” it said in a statement. “However, in light of increased levels of Taliban violence, the US government is working to provide certain Afghans, including those who worked with the United States, the opportunity for refugee resettlement to the United States.” The Taliban and the US-backed Afghan government have been engaged in talks aimed at achieving a political settlement to the long conflict, but those efforts have largely stalemated as the Taliban presses ahead with its military advance. The US withdrawal is expected to be complete this month.