Mariko Hirose, IRAP Litigation Director, addresses journalists at an outdoor press conference. She is surrounded by several journalists with cameras, microphones and notepads. She has straight, shoulder length black hair and wears a white blouse and black blazer.

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Oct 10, 2024

Afghan Allies Sue State Department Over Boilerplate SIV Eligibility Denials

Yesterday, five Afghan nationals and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) sued the State Department for denying Chief of Mission (COM) applications—the crucial first step in obtaining a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for Afghan allies—without the written explanation required by law.

Press Release

Jun 28, 2024

New Lawsuit: Children of Afghan Allies Should Be Eligible for SIVs

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the U.S. government's attempt to avoid accountability in Afghan & Iraqi Allies v. Blinken, a class action lawsuit challenging the U.S. government's failure to adjudicate Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications in a timely manner. The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP represent a class of Afghan and Iraqi nationals who worked for the United States’ missions in their home countries and have SIV applications pending longer than the congressionally-prescribed nine month timeline.

Press Release

Jun 12, 2024

SIV Victory: Court of Appeals Rejects U.S. Government’s Attempt to Abandon Afghan and Iraqi Allies

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the U.S. government's attempt to avoid accountability in Afghan & Iraqi Allies v. Blinken, a class action lawsuit challenging the U.S. government's failure to adjudicate Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications in a timely manner. The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP represent a class of Afghan and Iraqi nationals who worked for the United States’ missions in their home countries and have SIV applications pending longer than the congressionally-prescribed nine month timeline.

Press Release

Mar 20, 2024

IRAP Applauds Congressional Action to Extend SIV Program

Yesterday, Congressional negotiators confirmed that a bipartisan funding bill will authorize 12,000 additional Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and extend the program through 2026. Without action, the number of authorized Special Immigrant Visas would run out before the end of the year, leaving hundreds of thousands of Afghan allies and their families with no pathway to safety.

Press Release

Nov 2, 2023

IRAP Calls for Immediate Halt to Forced Removals of Afghans from Pakistan

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) condemns the government of Pakistan’s forcible return of Afghan refugees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This campaign of deportation and intimidation violates international law and endangers the lives of countless refugees, including IRAP’s clients.

Press Release

Aug 30, 2023

Two Years After the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan: What’s at Stake in the Government’s Appeal of Afghan & Iraqi Allies…

In the two years since the last military flight took off from Afghanistan, the U.S. Government has quietly tried to wash its hands of responsibility toward the Afghan people it left behind in a country ruled by the Taliban and ravaged by decades of U.S.-led conflict.

Blog Post

Mar 15, 2023

“We Were Robbed”: Advocates React to Afghan Humanitarian Parole FOIA Findings

The results of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and American Immigration Council (AIC) show that the United States effectively abandoned Afghan HP applicants, even while it profited from their application fees. 

Blog Post

Feb 17, 2016

IRAP Client Featured in The Washington Free Beacon

Yesterday, The Washington Free Beacon discussed the plight of one IRAP client from Afghanistan affected by

Feb 4, 2016

IRAP in The New York Times: Afghan Allies Deserve Better

The New York Times today published an editorial about a recent change to the Special

Jan 27, 2016

Press Release: New State Department Interpretation Unfairly Disqualifies Afghan Allies from Special Immigrant Visa Program

New York, NY, January 27, 2016 – Today, the State Department issued guidance on its

Press Release

Nov 25, 2015

Press Release: IRAP Lauds Bipartisan Reform of SIV Program for Afghans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        

Press Release