Refugee Ban Betrays a Promise to Afghan Allies
Halting admissions and cutting off aid programs have stranded thousands who risked their lives to support the US against the Taliban.
Brothers-in-arms.
Photographer: Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty Images
Republican and Democratic administrations alike benefited from the sacrifices of Afghans who put their lives on the line to support US troops, and spread American values, in the 20-year war against the Taliban. Both have now betrayed the trust those allies placed in them.
The previous White House botched the August 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, ushering the Taliban back into power. It tried to atone in part by smoothing pathways for military interpreters and others who qualified for Special Immigrant Visas, as well as refugees including judges, journalists and women’s rights activists, to emigrate to America. By the end of President Joe Biden’s term, close to 5,000 Afghans a month were successfully resettling in the US.