A new report from the lead inspector general to the United States Congress revealed that the State Department granted thousands of visas to Afghan migrants who aided the American government following the Biden administration's botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The Biden administration's withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan two years ago led to the Taliban's resurgence and the displacement of millions of Afghan migrants. The U.S. Inspector General report revealed that following the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul, the State Department issued around 34,000 Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) to Afghans and immediate family members.
A SIV allows permanent residence to Afghan migrants who assisted the U.S. government in Afghanistan and can include assisting the U.S. Armed Forces as translators and interpreters or working directly as an employee for the American government.
15,500 Afghan SIVs were issued in early 2023, while 9,000 during the early months of 2022. The report says the State Department is currently processing 13,187 remaining applicants. The State Department also resettled 90,000 Afghan refugees via the U.S. through Operation Allies Welcome.
Since the withdrawal, the people of Afghanistan have been subjected to strict Islamic Sharia law enacted by the Taliban, which has revoked many of the various rights that men and women had during America's presence in Kabul.
Following the death of Al Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan in 2022, details revealed that the terrorist group Al Qaeda was using the country as a sanctuary.
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