Senator Murray: We Can't Leave Our Allies Behind

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement calling on the administration to welcome duly vetted Afghan allies and partners with open arms.

"Right now, it's clear we need to be doing everything we can to get U.S. citizens, civil service members, and our Afghan partners out of the country safely. But we must also support our Afghan allies who will be seeking safe refuge. We cannot leave our allies who have stood by us for more than 20 years--from the interpreters who supported our troops to the women who bravely stepped forward into civic society--behind.

"I was glad to hear that the Biden administration is focused on a safe and quick evacuation--as that continues, the administration must do everything possible to expedite visa processing and work with state and local governments in order to safely re-locate refugees. When it means life or death for our trusted allies, we can't let bureaucracy and red tape stand in the way.

"Refugees bring tremendous value, diversity, and perseverance to the American identity. These characteristics make us stronger and more resilient as a nation, and simply put, welcoming our Afghan partners and allies with open arms is the right thing for us to do as a country. As I've said before, we should not fear or scapegoat our allies who are seeking refuge in America."

Yesterday, Senator Murray sent a letter urging the Biden administration to take swift, robust action to protect and support Afghan women leaders facing unparalleled danger following the Taliban's violent sweep across Afghanistan and seizure of Kabul. Senator Murray has previously pushed to expedite the processing of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to address the backlog of requests coming from Afghanistan. As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray helped shepherd the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 through the Senate earlier this year, which included provisions to accelerate the processing process for SIVs. Senator Murray has also pushed for more funding for the SIV process through the appropriations process in order to clear the backlog.

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