Should More Visas be Available to Afghans Facing Taliban Threats for Working With Americans? (H.R. 5694)

What is H.R. 5694?

(Updated December 24, 2018)

This bill — the Afghan Allies Protection Amendments Act of 2018 — would authorize an additional 4,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) for Afghans who served alongside U.S. military and diplomatic personnel as translators, interpreters, or other support staff in fiscal year 2019. Afghans would be eligible if they worked with the U.S. during a period prior to the end of fiscal year 2021. Unused visas that have been authorized would carry over to future fiscal years, and unused visas from the Iraqi SIV program (which ended in 2014) would also be made available.

Afghans who assisted the U.S. in their country face threats on their lives from the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and ISIS which led to the creation of the Afghan SIV program, which authorized the issuance of 14,500 visas since December 2014 and will end when visas have all been issued.

Argument in favor

Afghans who risked their lives by working with U.S. as interpreters and in other roles face threats on their lives from the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and ISIS. This commonsense, bipartisan bill ensures more of America’s Afghan allies can immigrate to the U.S.

Argument opposed

It’s wrong to continue a special visa program for Afghans who worked with U.S. military or diplomatic personnel even if they face threats on their lives. They should have to pursue immigration to the U.S. through other visa or refugee programs.

Impact

Eligible Afghans who worked with U.S. military and diplomatic personnel; and U.S. immigration authorities.

Cost of H.R. 5694

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) introduced this bill to address the shortage of visas in the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which helps Afghans who served with the U.S. and are facing threats from the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and ISIS:

“We have the greatest military in the world, and supporting our troops is critical to our national security. We must also remember our allies overseas who have risked their own lives to serve with American armed forces and personnel in order to advance the cause of freedom, and protect the United States. The War in Afghanistan continues, and I believe we must expand the SIV program and honor our commitment to those who risked so much to help us. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort to keep the Afghan SIV program open and operating effectively. Our commitment to our allies is part of America’s legacy, it’s how we will defeat terrorism, and maintain our foreign relationships around the world. To day, we introduce this legislation to ensure we leave no man behind.”

Original cosponsor Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) added:

“Through the years our military has been in the Middle East, there have been Afghan and Iraqi citizens who have provided our country with critical support. These individuals put their lives, and the lives of their families, on the line to help our nation. The Special Immigrant Visa program provides extra consideration for these allies trying to come to the U.S. to live. This is one way we can honor these brave families.”

This legislation has the support of 10 bipartisan cosponsors, evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) Press Release
  
• Ripon Advance
  
• International Refugee Assistance Project (In Favor)