Press Release
AALDEF: Biden Must Ensure Safe Evacuation of At-Risk Afghans
As people in the United States and around the world watch scenes of chaos and tragedy unfold in Afghanistan, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) calls on the Biden administration to keep its commitment to evacuate broad categories of Afghans seeking protection. These categories include, but are not limited to, all Special Immigrant Visa applicants and their families, immigrant visa applicants, i.e., family members of U.S. citizens, women’s rights activists, human rights defenders, religious minorities, and LGBTQ individuals.
To facilitate the immediate evacuation of vulnerable Afghans, multiple U.S. agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State, need to coordinate closely to ensure safe passage to the Kabul airport and to continue consular processing at the Kabul airport and the evacuation process for as long as possible.
Annie J. Wang, director of AALDEF’s Immigrant Justice Project, said, “AALDEF stands in solidarity with Afghans who are seeking protection. In addition to evacuating Afghans who have been issued Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) or are in the process of applying for SIV or refugee status, we call on the administration to facilitate the humanitarian parole of Afghans into the U.S. and to consider designating Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status.”
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For more information, contact:
Stuart J. Sia, Communications Director
212.966.5932 x203
ssia@aaldef.org
Annie J. Wang, Director, Immigrant Justice Project
212.966.5932 x213
awang@aaldef.org