KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The US House of Representatives has approved a bill to support the evacuation and resettlement of Afghans who helped the country during its two decades of involvement in Afghanistan.
The CARE Authorization Act of 2024, introduced by Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada earlier in October, was passed on Wednesday, November 20, with 334 votes in favor, 63 against, and 36 abstentions. It has now been moved to the US Senate for consideration.
The legislation calls for the appointment of a coordinator within the US Department of State to manage the relocation and resettlement of “Afghan allies” to the US.
In a post on X following the passage of the bill, Congresswoman Dina Titus wrote, “I am proud to have spearheaded this bill to ensure that we can protect eligible Afghan allies who have helped the United States and are facing threats from the Taliban.”
In a statement published on the Congress website, she said, “The passage of the CARE Authorization Act of 2024 further underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to safeguarding those who served alongside our personnel during the twenty-year mission in Afghanistan.”
“By authorizing the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts at the State Department, we can more effectively relocate and resettle those who have qualified to immigrate to the U.S. as a result of their service to this country,” she added.
The US State Department established the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office in 2022 to streamline and oversee the relocation and resettlement of eligible Afghans from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the United States.
The new bill will formally authorize the CARE office for three years and grant key authorities to support its mission, including the ability to enter into personal services contracts and measures to streamline the transfer of funds to and from other agencies involved in the Afghan relocation effort.
The approval of the legislation comes as thousands of Afghans eligible for relocation to the US have been stranded for years in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, and several other countries.
Although the US evacuated tens of thousands of Afghan allies during a round-the-clock airlift from Kabul in August 2021 and over the past three years, thousands are still waiting for their applications to be processed. They find themselves in a state of uncertainty, fearing Taliban retaliation in Afghanistan, while those who managed to flee to Pakistan face mistreatment and deportation.
The Associated Press (AP) reported last year that approximately 150,000 Special Immigration Visa (SIV) applications, for individuals who worked with the US government, remain unprocessed.
In addition to the SIV program, there are two other refugee designations available to Afghans: PI and P2. These programs are intended for aid workers, journalists, and others who, while not directly employed by the US government, contributed to promoting democracy and independent media during the two decades of US involvement in Afghanistan.
According to the AP report, approximately 27,400 applicants have applied for the P1 and P2 programs, but only a very limited number have been processed and relocated to the US.
