Visas for Our Afghan Partners: What Does the United States Owe Its Afghan Allies?

Events in Afghanistan are moving rapidly. The United States is committed to its military withdrawal and the Taliban continues to increase its efforts to take control of more territory in the region. Those at heightened risk to a Taliban offensive and retribution include tens of thousands of Afghans who aided the U.S. over the last twenty years in not just military operations but also in the development, diplomatic, and intelligence communities. As we see movement in Congress to streamline the Special Immigrant Visa process and pressure build on the Biden Administration to act quickly, questions remain on how and where an evacuation process will be undertaken? who will be included? on what timeline? and will it be enough to help U.S. allies? Please join us for a detailed discussion on what the United States owes its Afghan allies, the Special Immigrant Visa process, and what other options exist outside SIVs as the situation in Afghanistan develops.

This event is made possible through general support to CSIS.