The Washington Free Beacon today covered this week’s blocking of an amendment to extend the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. The decision may have devastating consequences.
The Senate failed to vote on the life-saving amendment on Friday, barring it from inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Should the amendment not pass on Monday, it would mark the first time in four years that Congress has failed to renew the program and issue new visas to Afghan allies to the U.S. military.
According to IRAP Policy Director, Betsy Fisher, who is mentioned in the article, “this program is a matter of life and death for our Afghan allies.” Former Army officer and SIV advocate Matt Zeller had strong words about the implications of not extending the program:
“This is going to get people killed, not just the translators who we’re breaking faith with at this point, but also the troops we’re asking them to serve.”
Read the full article here and share our press release calling for the authorization of additional visas for Afghan interpreters.