House Votes to Create More Visas for US Afghan Allies Threatened by the Taliban

Congress passed a bill that will provide additional visas for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Program late Friday afternoon. This bill passed both chambers of Congress with unanimous support and will create an additional 1,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) for the Afghans who served the US government during wartime. 

Afghans who work for the US—most serving as translators for the military—are in danger of retaliation from the Taliban, who label them traitors. All of them live in constant fear for their lives, and many have been killed while waiting for their American visa. 

Reason TV recently covered this issue:

Comments

[Christophe]

That's nice. Way cheaper than anything else we could do to help.

[Notorious G.K.C.]

In setting priorities for people to let in as immigrants, heck yes let's give preference to those who risked their lives on behalf of the U.S.

These guys could have just gotten themselves smuggled into the U.S. in the trunk of a car crossing the Mexican border, but they made the mistake of going through the system.

What will the world think of a country which lacks the will even to reward its friends? Such a nation of ingrates would deserve all the contempt heaped on it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Well, I don't agree with American immigration policy as it currently stands, but this is a slightly easier pill to swallow than "they snuck into the US and studied/worked really, really, REALLY hard, therefore, citizenship."

[DJF]

Why do we need Afghan translators if we are not in Afghanistan?

[Redmanfms]

Why do we need Afghan translators if we are not in Afghanistan?

What does granting asylum to refugees have to do with "need?"

But I forget, you're a stupid asshole.

[DJF]

Giving away my tax dollars to refugees does not meet any of my needs.

[Redmanfms]

How is money being given away?

[DJF]

Refugees get taxpayer dollars, food stamps, welfare, etc

Even the -so-called charities like "Save the Children" and Catholic Charities are paid by the taxpayer to take in refugees.

[brobbs]

Refugees get taxpayer dollars, food stamps, welfare, etc

Even the -so-called charities like "Save the Children" and Catholic Charities are paid by the taxpayer to take in refugees.

Good grief, no. Those are all great arguments to get rid of the social welfare state, not to bar foreign-looking and -sounding people from entering the country and working.

Otherwise, you are saying that all of us 'pure' Americans--who did nothing special other than decide as sperms & eggs where to be born--deserve all those tax-funded benefits.

It's bullshit. Nobody deserves anything "for free." Not American citizens. And not brown people who speak heavily accented English (or no English at all).

[Acosmist]

How naive are you to think this won't be gamed like the refugee racket?

Oh, right, libertarians and immigration. Naive as fuck.

[BenDFW]

We'll know because they won't need a translator during the interview. It would be very foolish of the US government to not bring these guys who risked everything helping us. Maybe this time we'll learn not to try to nation build.

[DJF]

Why is is foolish, they were employees and now we don't need them anymore.

Happens everyday, why are these special?

[Redmanfms]

Why is is foolish, they were employees and now we don't need them anymore.

Happens everyday, why are these special?

Because they will be murdered for their employment.

Jesus you are fucking stupid.

[DJF]

Its claimed they fought for the US, so why don't they fight for themselves?

[REMant]

What else is new? Happened after every one of our foreign adventures.

[brobbs]

I've got an even better idea than this immigration stuff. How about we GET THE F OUT OF AFGHANISTAN and stop carrying on an unwinnable war for years and years to come?

We had sense enough to leave Vietnam after less than a decade. Where is this modern political retardation coming from?