The White House said Wednesday it's doing 'extensive planning for potential evacuation' of Afghans who have worked as translators, drivers, cooks and in other positions helping the U.S. war effort.
More than 18,000 are stuck trying to apply for Special Immigrant Visas, with the U.S.'s involvement in Afghanistan ending in 80 days. If left in Afghanistan, those allied with the U.S. could be murdered by the Taliban.
'These are individuals who have played an incredibly courageous role in helping the United States at various times over the course of our recent history,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday. 'We are processing and getting people out at a record pace.'
'We are working with Congress right now to streamline some of the requirements that slow this process down and we're doing the kind of extensive planning for potential evacuation should that become necessary,' Psaki continued.
'So we're continuing to evaluate what are options are there, continuing to take steps foward and certainly we want to take every step we can take from the federal government to treat all these courageous individuals as they deserve,' she added.
Psaki also confirmed that the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks remains the Afghanistan drawdown deadline.
'I would say I don't anticipate, the timeline for withdrawal is not going to change, by September, which of course is overseen by our Department of Defense,' she said during Wednesday's press briefing.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the U.S. government is doing 'extensive planning for potential evacuation' of the 18,000 Afghans stuck in the visa process who have aided the U.S. war effort
When President Joe Biden withdraws the final American troops from Afghanistan, up to 18,000 who risked their lives for the US could be left behind. These are the Afghan translators and interpreters who have worked alongside all military branches and against the insurgents for the last 20 years throughout America's longest war. One is pictured in Afghanistan with US troops
Afghans applying for the visas are are under constant fear of deadly attacks from the Taliban and have been run out of their homes, with their families of young children, because of their support for the American government.
These are the Afghan translators and interpreters who have worked alongside all U.S. military branches and against the insurgents for the last 20 years throughout America's longest war.
They have served with the CIA, the State Department, the Army and the Marines on the frontlines in one of the most dangerous battle zones in the world - but have been left in limbo by the slow process to get accepted for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV).
They are the cooks, drivers and cultural advisors who were essential in supporting ground operations - even though they knew siding with American military would put their livelihoods in imminent danger.
Now, they are stranded and begging for visas to let them escape the hell they face, with just 80 days until all troops are gone.
They are all under threat, and when the U.S. ends its military presence on September 11, they will be even more exposed to the violence of the Taliban, who have grown increasingly aggressive since Biden announced he was pulling out U.S. forces.
Many have already seen relatives killed and others fear they will be decapitated. They are now reaching out to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to give them safe haven in the United States.
All linguists are in a very bad situation. If the Taliban or Sisi see us, they will cut our heads from our bodies. Help us please
Visa application from one of the 18,000 stranded Afghan translators as the US withdraws forces
Some have been waiting years to have their application approved, with the longest dating back to 1981, according to No One Left Behind, the non-profit charity fighting to make sure the U.S. government keeps their promise to those who supported the military during some of the most intense fighting in Helmand Province.
The organization says 300 Afghan interpreters have been killed in targeted attacks while waiting to secure their visas since 2014, but the exact numbers are unknown.
The process should take nine months, but has been hampered by a myriad of setbacks including the pandemic and the need for translators to get paperwork.
SIVs are available to those who have helped the U.S. military and now face serious threats as a result of their employment.
The U.S. has handed out 50 special visas per year to be issued to Afghan and Iraqi interpreters and translators.
There have also been 26,500 visas allocated to Afghans employed by the government since December 2014, but the process for those who haven't had their applications accepted is slow.
It has been delayed even further by the pandemic and the State Department's administrative backlogs, and time is running out with Biden looking to pull all troops out by September 11, 2021.
On Sunday, the Kabul embassy suspended all visa operations because of a third wave of COVID that is sweeping the country. This is after embassy, like most other U.S. outposts around the world, that has severely limited appointments because of pandemic restrictions.
There is also a staff shortage that is hampering the speed of which these applications are handled.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said half of the 18,000 SIV applicants waiting for approval are in the early stages of the application and require more paperwork. He is also considering bringing the Afghans into the U.S. as refugees.
But many are stuck. They require supporting documents from their supervisors in the military. Sometimes they have no means of contacting them, simply because they don't know their personal email addresses.
The translators who served alongside Americans are stranded and begging for visas to let them escape the hell they face, with just 80 days until all troops are gone. They are all under threat, and when the US ends its military presence on September 11, they will be even more exposed to the violence of the Taliban, who have grown increasingly violent since Biden announced he was pulling out US forces
Around 300 Afghan interpreters are believed to have been killed in targeted attacks while waiting to secure their visas since 2014, but the exact numbers are unknown. Their faces have been blurred to protect their identity because of Taliban threats
They also need evidence that shows they worked for the U.S. government for two years.
According to a database held by No One Left Behind, the Afghan applicants have taken to pleading to Biden and Harris.
In their applications they detail the threats they face and beg for the process to be sped up. Some insist they still support the American and hope for better lives if they are welcomed into the U.S., but believe they have betrayed by the bureaucratic logjam.
There is now a bipartisan push to pressure the State Department into accelerating the process as the Pentagon quickly pulls troops out.
The date of full withdrawal is September 11, but many have already left and operations are rapidly drawing to a close.
If we abandon them, we are signing their death warrants.
- Republican Rep. Michael McCaul
The U.S. has said it will maintain a diplomatic presence in Kabul, which could help the visa applications, but the lack of troops will mean the translators aren't protected.
Rep. Michael Waltz told DailyMail.com: 'Afghan translators have been vital American partners on the ground and their lives are in danger if we can't get them out soon.
'The military has testified that they are ready to evacuate but the Biden Administration must make it a priority to green light their extraction.
'I can't emphasize how detrimental it would be to our national security interests if we signaled to the rest of the world that we are willing to leave those who help us against the enemy behind to die.'
Sen. Angus King, an Independent from Maine, told reporters last week that Biden's hair 'should be on fire' over the Afghans he is leaving behind.
'I want the White House's hair on fire. I want them to do everything within their power to solve this problem….I’m not being critical of the administration, but I think it’s time to step up their game,' King said.
'Much of what’s needed could be done by the administration. It can't be business as usual.'
Rep. Michael McCaul, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs said earlier this month: '[The Afghan interpreters] have a bull's eye and a target on their back from the moment we leave the country.
'If we abandon them, we are signing their death warrants.'
James Miervaldis, from the Board of Directors of No One Left Behind, told DailyMail.com: 'We received over 1,200 signatures from SIV applicants complete with NVC case numbers, the amount of time they have been waiting, and personal statements to President Biden.
They have worked for the CIA, the State Department, the Army and the Marines on the frontlines in one of the most dangerous battlezones in the world - but have been left in limbo by the slow process to get accepted for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)
A State Department spokesperson told DailyMail.com they are constantly working to improve the SXIV program while ensuring the integrity of the program and safeguarding national security
75 percent of applicants would still work with the U.S. knowing what they know now about how they've been treated. Twenty-five percent regret they worked
