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Blumenauer Statement on Deteriorating Situation in Afghanistan, Need to Evacuate Allies

Statement

Date: Aug. 15, 2021
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense Foreign Affairs Immigration

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Following is a statement from U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), who helped create the Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa programs, on the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan:

"What is playing out right now in Afghanistan is a tragedy. With the situation deteriorating faster than expected, it's not just American personnel and NGOs in harm's way. The United States must act now to evacuate the Afghan allies who put their lives -- and the lives of their families -- on the line to help our country. I helped create the Special Immigrant Visa program with former Senators John McCain and Ted Kennedy, two leaders who understood the United States' duty to the people who helped our troops and were promised protection in return. Being a friend should not be fatal, but our window to meet this promise is shrinking by the hour. There will be time later to unpack exactly what went wrong. Now is the time to save lives."


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