Local army personnel: Afghan aid workers flown to the USA

The first aircraft has arrived in the USA with more than 200 Afghans who have worked as local staff for the US Army. Congress supports the airlift in seldom unity across party lines.

At 2:00 a.m., the passenger plane from Kabul landed in the US state of Virginia. On board were 221 Afghan men, women and children. They are employees of the US Army with their families who have helped as translators or in other functions in Afghanistan.

They are entitled to a special immigrant visa to the USA for their risky work. Many fear that they will become the target of the radical Islamic Taliban in their homeland – especially after the impending withdrawal of the US armed forces.

Cross-party support in Congress

President Joe Biden greeted the Afghan families in writing and thanked them for their hard work and courage. Virginia’s Senator Tim Kaine was delighted that the families in his state can now start a new life: “We are proud that these people are arriving here and want to support them in a new, exciting and challenging chapter full of opportunities in the USA to start.”

And Kaine emphasized something else: For once, Republicans and Democrats were in agreement on the airlift to Afghanistan. The Congress passed a law by a large majority – the Senate even unanimously – through which an additional billion dollars can be invested in the program.

“Our brothers and sisters in war”

In an emotional speech in the House of Representatives, Republican Michael Waltz also advocated unity of both parties. “These Afghans were our brothers and sisters in the war,” said Waltz. “Our life depended on them.”

They fought with us, bled with us and in many cases they died with our troops. “Waltz himself was deployed several times as a soldier in Afghanistan.

High hurdles for Afghans

The visa process for the Afghan aid workers is complicated. Because of the advance of the Taliban, many of the applicants live scattered and hidden across the country. Because US troops are withdrawing from Afghanistan, it will be difficult to help these people.

In addition, Krish O’Mara from the Lutheran immigration and refugee organization LIRS criticizes that only Afghans who have worked for the US troops for more than two years are helped. “What about the ones who worked for about 18 months? Are we leaving them behind?” Asks O’Mara. In addition, the visa process takes far too long – sometimes years.

Temporary stay in third countries?

The US government is already considering flying applicants to third countries such as Kuwait or Qatar so that they can safely wait for their papers for the US.

In the coming weeks, another 2,500 applicants, including their families, will be brought to the United States. Most of your visa process is complete. Overall, significantly more, according to estimates up to 70,000 Afghans, could be considered to use the special immigrant visa.