Refugee Congress Calls on the Biden Administration to Act Swiftly on the Crisis in Afghanistan

Refugee Congress Calls on the Biden Administration to Act Swiftly on the Crisis in Afghanistan

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2021

WASHINGTON--Refugee Congress calls on the Biden administration to take swift action to evacuate our Afghan allies and provide refuge and access to protection for Afghans in need.

As the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is almost complete, there has been a rapid deterioration in the security and human rights situation in the country. In addition to working to evacuate American diplomats, citizens and remaining U.S. military, the U.S. has airlifted more than 1,200 Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients to Fort Lee. However, many thousands more of our Afghan allies and their family members remain in harm’s way and are in desperate need of protection.

The Biden administration needs to immediately lay out a clear plan to bring the remaining tens of thousands of Afghan allies and their families to safety, and to provide access to protections for Afghans whose lives are at risk.

"We are urging the Biden administration to move quickly to gain control of the catastrophic situation that has unfolded in Afghanistan,” said Lourena Gboeah, Chair of the Refugee Congress Board of Directors. “The U.S. must keep its promise to protect our Afghan allies and their loved ones by any means necessary. The safety of Afghan civilians is paramount, and we must act now."

“Despite ongoing warnings about the dire consequences of such a hasty withdrawal, we are now left watching thousands of Afghans flee for their lives and safety,” said Nili Sarit Yossinger, Executive Director of Refugee Congress. “When we ask others to put themselves at risk for us, we have a moral obligation to ensure their safety. This response we are seeing from the administration -- this is not who we are as a nation. We are failing our allies, and this administration must take action immediately to keep our promises to the thousands of people who put themselves at risk.”

As an organization built and led by former refugees, asylees and other vulnerable migrants who had to flee violence, unsafe conditions and persecution, Refugee Congress knows firsthand what it's like to depend on the U.S. to fulfill its promise in providing safety and protection. 

“I had a sleepless night when I saw the images of families hanging on to the aircraft out of desperation to leave for fear of their lives,” said Joseph Sackor, Refugee Congress Honorary Delegate for Pennsylvania. “There is no justification whatsoever for the level of betrayal. The current administration should have evacuated all the SIVs and other vulnerable groups who risked their lives for them months before the announcement of the withdrawal date. I'm profoundly devastated by what is unfolding in Afghanistan.”

“As a former refugee myself who survived a civil war and escaped persecution, I urge the Biden administration to not leave behind the Afghan men, women and children, who are currently facing uncertainty and great danger,” said Nejra Sumic, Refugee Congress Delegate for Arizona. “The United States is a nation of refuge and provides a beacon of hope. We ask the President to open our doors and bring to safety Afghan allies and their families, Afghan civilians, along with those waiting for reunification immediately.”

"As a Việt Nam War refugee, the Afghanistan situation is a horrifying déjà vu,” said Nga Vương-Sandoval, Refugee Congress Delegate for Colorado. “The striking parallels between Kabul and the Fall of Sài Gòn reminds us of our obligation to provide protections for those fleeing from the terrors of war and oppression. We have a moral duty as a nation to provide immediate humanitarian relief for Afghan refugees and allies." 

"Many foreigners/do-gooders are perceived as ‘saviors.’ But when the situation in a country gets intense, like in Afghanistan now, the ‘saviors’ are saved, while the vulnerable community is left to be slaughtered,“ said Myra Dahgaypaw, Refugee Congress Delegate from Virginia. “It’s so disheartening that the Biden administration evacuated the Americans and left the vulnerable Afghans from Kabul to be killed by the Taliban. This is not the way we uphold basic human rights—so unacceptable and appalling."

Emergency humanitarian assistance and immediate evacuation is needed immediately for Afghans who are in danger, including women, children and members of religious and ethnic minorities who have been historically targeted by the Taliban. 

“We cannot turn our backs on Afghanistan. We have an obligation to provide protection to  Afghan allies and civilians who are in danger. It is critical that they are brought to safety, where they have access to immigration systems that are capable of providing them protection,” said Dagemawit Kebede, Communication and Advocacy Associate for Refugee Congress. 

We encourage organizations and individuals to visit Evacuate Our Allies and use the RCUSA Afghanistan Response Social Media Toolkit to take action and join us in calling on the Biden administration to evacuate ALL of our Afghan allies and stand in solidarity with our Afghan people.

"Innocent Afghan people are living in danger, including kids who haven't had a chance to live their full lives yet,” said Lubab Al-Quraishi, Refugee Congress Delegate for New Jersey. 

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Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by former refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants to promote the well-being, integration and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With delegates across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities.

MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 905-6238, media@refugeecongress.org