Senators push to authorize 4,000 more visas for Afghans

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) introduced an amendment to the 2017 defense policy bill Thursday that would authorize 4,000 additional visas for Afghans who served as interpreters to U.S. troops and officials during the war in Afghanistan to come to the United States. 

“This country owes a great debt to the Afghans who provided essential assistance to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan,” Shaheen said in a statement. 

{mosads}“Thousands of these brave men and women stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Americans in the field, putting themselves and their families at risk to help our soldiers and diplomats accomplish their mission and return home safely,” she added. 

Currently, 3,600 visas still need to be issued through the special immigration visa program for Afghan interpreters, but more than 10,000 Afghans have been waiting in a backlog for years.

Congress has authorized additional visas for Afghan interpreters over the past several years through the National Defense Authorization Act but so far this year, efforts have been blocked by Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee over security concerns.

“I will not stand by while Congress turns it back on these individuals and imperils our ability to secure this kind of support in the future,” Shaheen added.   

The effort is supported by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.), ranking member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and committee member Thom Tillis (N.C.). 

“Our nation has a moral obligation to protect those Afghans whose lives are in imminent danger today because they supported American troops and diplomats,” McCain said in a statement.

“This amendment will ensure the continuation of the Special Immigrant Visa program, which our military commanders have said is essential to battlefield success and preserving the gains of the last 15 years in Afghanistan,” McCain continued. “And it will send a clear message that America will not turn its back on those — who at great personal risk — stood with us in the fight against terror.”