A group of 51 bipartisan lawmakers is advocating for the continuation of financial support for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program amidst ongoing negotiations for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations package. Representatives Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) penned a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole and other key figures, emphasizing the importance of authorizing new Afghan SIVs to facilitate the relocation of qualified Afghan applicants.
The lawmakers argue that the Afghan SIV program serves as a crucial lifeline for Afghan nationals facing imminent threats from groups like the Taliban and Islamic State due to their collaboration with U.S. military personnel and diplomats. Originally established in 2009, the program gained renewed significance following the rapid Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, prompting the U.S. withdrawal from the region after an extended presence.
