Democrats, Refugee Groups Pressure Biden To Act Faster For Afghan Allies

Democrats are calling on President Joe Biden to fulfill his promise to the thousands of Afghans who assisted the U.S. during the war by speeding up their evacuations and approving visa applications to enter the U.S. ― before it’s too late.

“We’re going to see pictures of them lined up against a wall and machine-gunned. And that’s not an exaggeration,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said on MSNBC Tuesday morning, urging the Biden administration to act swiftly and decisively.

“We must ensure that the brave Afghans who stood with America are not abandoned as we conclude our mission in that country, and there is bipartisan support for this effort. We made a promise to the Afghans who risked their own lives to support and protect our troops and our country. As a country, our word is our bond, and we all agree, Republicans and Democrats, that bond will not be broken on our watch,” Leahy said.

Biden announced last Thursday that the U.S. would evacuate Afghan translators and other allies who assisted the U.S. during the decade-long war, and that relocation flights would begin later this month. But exact details of the plan remain unclear, including where they will be relocated or how long they are expected to wait for approval to enter the U.S. This has created widespread concern from Democrats and advocacy groups.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan has seen an uptick in violence since the U.S. announced the withdrawal of all remaining U.S. troops there. Many who worked with the U.S. have said they fear for their lives, worrying about retaliatory attacks from the Taliban after the U.S. announced it was withdrawing all remaining troops in the country by September. At least 300 interpreters have been killed in Afghanistan since 2016, according to the National Immigration Forum.