Bringing together organizations with a shared commitment to fulfilling the United States’ duty to at-risk Afghans.
Administers the
#AfghanEvac
Coalition
With
#Ukraine
& the looming prospect of
#WWIII
all over the news, you may be wondering what will happen to all of our wartime allies in
#Afghanistan
(& those awaiting final resettlement elsewhere). We are too.
This graphic shows some key changes we must make to get this right.
Great news!
Today the Biden Admin formally asked that a path for Afghan arrivals to apply for lawful permanent resident status is included in the Congressional Ukraine funding bill.
This shows our allies the U.S. keeps its promises. Grateful to
@WhiteHouse
for its support!
Tonight, we heard loud and clear what
@POTUS
thinks of us and the volunteers throughout this effort.
We will have more to say in the coming days but
#SOTU2022
told us everything we needed to know about
@WhiteHouse
priorities.
We are deeply disappointed.
#BREAKING
: 22 retired flag and general officers agree the
#AfghanAdjustmentAct
is a national security imperative, urge Congress to act to include in Omnibus spending bill.
On
#WorldRefugeeDay
, the
#AfghanEvac
team is proud to continue working to help P1/P2 referred Afghans in Pakistan and all around the world.
We see you, we hear you, and we know you desperately need relief. We stand with you and will continue making your voices heard.
Yesterday, members of the
#AfghanEvac
coalition joined volunteers from across the ecosystem for a
@WhiteHouse
event hosted by the NSC to recognize the work of the dedicated Afghans & volunteers who put their hearts and souls into this relocation & resettlement effort.
A
#TopTen
list of things that, if enacted tomorrow, would drastically improve outcomes for all involved in
#AfghanEvac
1. Appoint an Ambassador to Qatar (vacant 5 years)
2. Waive HP fees, issue clear guidance, and refund fees for
#Afghans
denied
3. Allow virtual visa interviews
Today
@StateDept
launched a long-awaited family reunification form for Afghans on parole status in the U.S. who were separated from family during or due to the military withdrawal in August 2021.
The new form, DS-4317, can be found here:
The
#AfghanEvac
team is super proud to stand with all of the witnesses today, and especially
@PeterLucier
and
@cmackler
from our leadership team.
Powerful testimony and the helped keep the hearing focused on the ongoing work.
The
#AfghanEvac
team just had a great meeting with Curtis Ried and the
@WhiteHouse
@AlliesWelcome
/ NSC team working on all things
#Afghanistan
. We were encouraged to hear about some concrete steps to come regarding third country processing, USRAP timeline improvements, and more.
Fake SIV notices are arriving via email. “You have been selected for a Special Immigrant Visa. Your email was chosen from the database of the Afghanistan Embassy in the USA”.
Has a USCIS attachment that references Humanitarian Parole (not SIV) and is signed by a USCIS person.
Huge news for
#Afghan
SIVs:
@SecMayorkas
and
@SecBlinken
announced today that I-360s will no longer be required for SIV pplications beginning 7/20. Functionally, they believe this will take about a month off of processing times for applications. More at
#EnduringWelcome
will focus on 3 main eligibility categories: Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) and P1/P2 referrals to the refugee admissions program for the most vulnerable populations, enabling these new arrivals to join our communities with long-term immigration status; and
#Afghan
friends: in this new year we wish you peace and prosperity. Last year was marked with hardship, tragedy, and disaster for so many. We stand with you and wish for a spring filled with hope and success.
#Nowruz
Mubarak!
AfghanEvac’s highest priority is pushing for a drastic increase in processing capacity and throughput in the full pipeline of relocation to resettlement.
The current situation is unacceptable and untenable. We are committed to working with our partners in and out of government.
Our friends at
@EvacOurAllies
New Year’s resolution is simple and straightforward and sits at the core of what
#AfghanEvac
aims to do:
We will not stop honoring the American ethos, “Leave no one behind.”
Join us in 2022.
Earlier today,
@SecBlinken
met with more than 130 members of the AfghanEvac Coalition to discuss road blocks which still must be cleared, in order for Afghans arrive in the US safely, and successfully begin their new lives here in the United States.
For the last seven hours we have bombarded your timelines, highlighting voices calling for Congressional action.
You can breathe easy, the tweet storm is over.
But our commitment remains steadfast.
Thanks to all who participated.
Thousands of veterans, volunteers, Afghans, and Americans are joining us today in calling for the inclusion of the
#AfghanAdjustmentAct
in the Ukrainian supplemental, and then for swift passage.
Will you join us?
Tweet using the hashtag, and call your representatives today.
Check out the
@StateDept
fact sheet on the time-saving changes announced this week to
#SIV
processing, including removal of the I-360 as a requirement. We're updating our SIV Journey Graphic now, stay tuned!
#AfghanEvac
BREAKING:
@DHSgov
and
@StateDept
have established TRIG exemptions for Afghans. This news means that many of our allies may now be eligible for admission to the US.
This is huge and welcome news. The
#WelcomeCorps
offers a structured opportunity for Americans from all walks of life to band together and welcome refugees into our great nation.
Sign up today at
The United States is launching the Welcome Corps, the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in four decades. This initiative enables Americans to directly support refugees and show the best of American hospitality and generosity.
#JoinTheWelcomeCorps
Next Monday we'll be convening an event to speak directly to current residents of EHC/TWC. We'll be putting out a link soon but please like/RT if you're interested in this (and other events like it).
The
@WhiteHouse
announced their long-term plan for continued relocation & resettlement of
#Afghan
allies, to be called
#EnduringWelcome
. The
#AfghanEvac
team is encouraged to see that this commitment has no end date and incorporates many of our recs. More:
#BREAKING
:
#AfghanEvac
calls on state / local government leaders to take action as we approach 2 years since the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces from Afghanistan.
RT and forward to your reps and ask them to stand with
#Afghans
.
#Afghan
friends from Afghanistan to
#EHC
: please keep the faith. Our coalition is pushing to ensure you get the information you need about relocation, eligibility for onward travel to the US, and expansion of capacity and throughout for evacuation to resettlement. Stay safe.
#Afghan
friends: if someone offers you a charter flight, make sure to ask these questions. Where you are going is not a secret. The answers should be readily available.
If anyone asks you to do something that seems strange, reach out and we will help you.
#AfghanEvac
Less than a week away from the 8th full month of non-government, private, and non-profit sector volunteers bridging the gaps in government to help keep our commitments to Afghanistan.
Folks are exhausted, frustrated, and angry.
There aren't any good answers.
Members of congress: we need to see you step up and call for including an adjustment of status and improvements to the SIV / USRAP programs in the Ukraine supplemental. Today. Right now.
Members of our coalition met this afternoon with
@StateDept
reps to discuss
#EHC
.
The meeting went well and the coalition feels as though our questions were answered directly.
We learned a lot today, so be ready for this thread to be quite long. 🧵
The
#afghanevac
coalition is encouraged that the first ask in our recent open letter has been answered by the
@WhiteHouse
. The appointment of Mr. Ried to this role is a critical step forward to continue evacuating vulnerable Americans and Afghan allies who remain in Afghanistan.
We congratulate Governor Markell on being confirmed by the Senate to serve as U.S. Representative for Economic Co-Operation and Development.
Read our full statement:
In just a couple of hours we will be meeting with
@StateDept
to discuss current conditions and the future for those residing at
#EHC
. We will share what we can publicly and request all stakeholders operate with the principles of transparency and dignity front of mind.
We just sent over the final letter to
@GovPakistan
, and provided a suggestion that they consider U.S. Visas equivalent to an exit permit.
This letter represents a cross-section of American diplomatic, national security, and humanitarian experience.
We await Pakistan's response.
If you are an Afghan woman at risk and being told that someone from email address Sgwi.ewo
@secretary
.net can help you (or the associated WhatsApp group) do NOT give them any information.
This is not associated with
@StateDept
or
@StateGWI
and should not be trusted.
Great news,
@StateDept
has launched a form for Afghans seeking family reunification to get status updates!
We don’t yet know what turnaround times will be but at the very least there is now a way for Afghans to get answers themselves. Thank you CARE!
Congress held another hearing today to talk about Afghanistan but they still haven’t DONE anything to help Afghans.
Afghans can’t wait around for people in DC to think about things. They need help.
We want to see congress prioritizing that help over their political agenda.
If you are currently at
#EHC
we see you, we hear you, we know you are hurting, and we want to help.
Today, we spoke with USG partners who assured us you are a priority for them as well. It will take time but you will not be forgotten.
We will keep pressing for better outcomes
Anyone planning flights out of
#Afghanistan
should be able to answer all of these questions. If not, they are likely poorly prepared, taking unacceptable risk, a scam, or a combination of those.
#AfghanEvac
A huge thank you to
@SenatorWicker
for standing with veterans, frontline civilians, Afghans, and Americans from all over our great country and co-sponsoring the
#AfghanAdjustmentAct
!
Did you know that Afghans who have arrived in the US since August 2021 are eligible to apply for asylum AND that applying for asylum does not have any impact on an SIV application? That means one could apply for asylum while awaiting COM approval with no negative impact.
Big news:
#Afghans
in Pakistan can now reach the emergency hotline for those being detained or deported via phone or WhatsApp text!
The hours are Mon-Sat, 8AM through midnight ISL time.
WhatsApp (text only): +1(956) 291-4571
Phone: +1 757-916-4100
Next week, the
@StateDept
is sitting down with the coalition team for a special meeting focused on
#EHC
.
We are seeking ground truth about who is there, how they got there, and more. Coalition members are collecting questions from the folks they know on the ground. More to come
Afghans in
#EHC
:
We are so sorry you have been there for such a long time with such uncertainty.
Here’s what we know to be true:
- You will be resettled.
- You will not be sent back to Afghanistan.
- Nobody has forgotten you.
- Flights have not stopped.
One year ago today, Kabul fell and the lives of those living and working in this space changed irrevocably. But for Afghans around the globe, we know this is not simply an anniversary: it is a day that your country and your home changed.
Right now, we have an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to Afghans who stood beside us for 20 years. Urge your Senators to protect our allies with an
#AfghanAllies
amendment. Take action!
The wealthiest and most fortunate nations in the world were primary contributors to the unrest we see in Afghanistan.
These crises are not the same but the response from the global community should be. Helping hands and welcome with open arms.
Meanwhile in Afghanistan... tens of thousands seeking refuge; five million children facing famine; 500% increase in child marriages; children being sold to feed families... Not a mention of it.
My god, they must be wondering what makes their humanitarian crisis so unimportant.
Remember that the expected processing time for folks referred to USRAP for P1/P2 processing is roughly 12-18 months.
We hope to see this timeline shrink and faster processes adopted but that hasn’t happened.
Please join
@EvacOurAllies
and
#AfghanEvac
in thanking Senator
@JerryMoran
for standing with Afghans, veterans, frontline civilians, business, and Americans of all color, creed, and political persuasion.
Members of the
#AfghanEvac
coalition team had the opportunity to visit the
@StateDept
National Visa Center to meet leaders and frontline workers whose daily task is to assist
#Afghans
and other hopeful immigrants to get to the United States.
The way
@DHSgov
, and more specifically
@USCIS
, has been treating Afghans is abysmal. Give the millions back that you took from them in exchange for false hope and nothing more.
We know that
@SecMayorkas
said early in that humanitarian parole would be an option. Let’s see it.
Update on EHC/TWC: despite rumors, nobody has been deported to Afghanistan.
Some folks have requested to go back and, after what we are told is extensive risk assessment, have had those requests granted.
As far as we know nobody has been forced back and that will not change.
CARE
@StateDept
has a hotline for Afghans in Pakistan in duress (e.g., detained, deported).
The hotline is able to provide responses based on immigration pathway and identity validation may be required.
Phone number, hours, and more available at
This work is hard and has a major impact on the mental health of our volunteers and the Afghans we’re trying to assist. Today is a Day of Resilience for coalition members, who will come together in person & virtually for community & support in locations across the country.
Friends at
#EHC
:
@UNmigration
(IOM) does not and will not charge Afghans for airfare when flying to the United States.
If you have completed all other processes and someone is telling you that you have to book / pay for your own flight, they are lying to you or misinformed.
#BREAKING
:
#AfghanEvac
sends open letter to Pakistani officials with 90+ signatures seeking reassurance for Afghans in Pakistan.
Signatories include former senior U.S. officials & leaders from across the country & around the globe.
See full release at:
Through 20 years of war, Afghan friends and allies stood by our side. The administration tonight chose to ignore those two decades of partnership, the chaotic evacuation in August 2021 that left so many behind, and the commitment we made as a county to keep our promises.
#EHC
Update:
Today, an update was given to guests at EHC/TWC during a weekly meeting. Relevant updates:
The survey being conducted by
@StateDept
will be completed by the end of this week. This survey will help government teams identify who is eligible for onward travel to US.
HUGE news out of
@WhiteHouse
today! Career Foreign Service Officer (and Marine Corps veteran) Timmy Davis has been nominated US Ambassador to
#Qatar
.
This nomination has been one of our key asks from
@POTUS
and we support swift movement through the Senate confirmation process.
WATCH NOW ▶️
@SecBlinken
is signing a renewed agreement with the
@AfghanEvac
coalition and recognizing the everyday Americans who partner with
@StateDept
to relocate and resettle
#Afghan
allies.
If you are a vet grateful to
@LindseyGrahamSC
for his support of newly arrived
#Afghans
who stood with us for years, please QT this to say thank you and share what it means to you.
#AfghanEvac
New: At least one Republican supports the White House’s effort to include the Afghan Adjustment Act in the Ukraine supplemental bill.
“I’d like to see these people have some certainty in their lives,”
@LindseyGrahamSC
tells me.
We generally focus on issues related to the relocation and safe arrival in a new home for
#Afghans
at risk, but thought today might be a great day to share some resources for our new
#AfghanNeighbors
.
An AEC member:
"I am a volunteer to help Afghans left behind. The last eight months have been nothing but brutal helping them to stay alive and survive. I STRONGLY support including
#AfghanAdjustmentAct
in the Ukraine supplemental. Our allies can’t wait any longer."
With
#Ukraine
& the looming prospect of
#WWIII
all over the news, you may be wandering what will happen to all of our wartime allies in
#Afghanistan
(& those awaiting final resettlement elsewhere). We are too.
This graphic shows some key changes we must make to get this right.
Our latest infographic is out: This chart details who is eligible to be relocated through
@StateDept
flights out of
#Afghanistan
when they resume. Of note: US Citizens, LPRs, and Visa holders remain eligible to relocate via commercial flights any time.
Our coalition is encouraged by the commitment expressed by
@SecBlinken
in today’s meeting to ensure that we uphold the promises we made to Afghan allies.
We will continue to work with government partners for as long as it takes to finish this mission.
Full press release here
#BREAKING
: We just released this letter to state, local, and special district government leaders across the nation. Will you RT and tag your local officials to ask them to support? You can check out to learn more about how to help.
We will be sending out a breaking update to our letter tomorrow.
We haven’t heard from Pakistani officials but we have some news regarding new signatures, including prominent leaders in human rights and diplomacy.
#BREAKING
:
#AfghanEvac
sends open letter to Pakistani officials with 90+ signatures seeking reassurance for Afghans in Pakistan.
Signatories include former senior U.S. officials & leaders from across the country & around the globe.
See full release at:
We have just launched our form for
#Afghans
in
#Pakistan
who are in the US pathway & believe they should receive a letter showing as much. We will share the information collected with
@StateDept
&
@DHSgov
(depending on the pathway).
Please share widely!
There are still thousands of eligible Afghans hoping to relocate and resettle here in the US and we must keep this work going to ensure they have that chance–that will require sustained operations for the long-term. This is the work of years, not months.
The work of relocating and resettling
#Afghan
allies will last years, but it is vital that we
#keepthepromise
we made as a country. Increased capacity for processing in 3rd countries would make a huge difference in improving efficiency and moving more people, faster.
We've been hearing the pleas for information from
#Afghans
currently living at
#EHC
in Abu Dhabi. Over the coming days, the
#AfghanEvac
coalition will work with partners in and out of government to identify relevant stakeholders, ground truth, and to understand next steps.
It’s been nearly two years since American forces left Afghanistan but our allies are still there, left behind. It’s time to finish the job — by helping those who helped us get out of harm’s way, and by providing permanence for the Afghan allies we have already relocated to the US
Really strong floor speech last night from
@amyklobuchar
. Check it out and watch for her mentioning the letters we organized of former flag officers and Ambassadors to Afghanistan.
Tune in to C-SPAN this morning to hear from her,
@ChrisCoons
, and more!
Did you know that SIVs aren't processed in order of receipt but are instead processed according to which priority tier they fall? We created an infographic to help folks better understand. It's attached here and available any time at
BREAKING:
@FaridNaheed
and
@LuckyFromUrgun
from the
#AfghanEvac
team met with President and Mrs. Bush today at
@TheBushCenter
, along with 12 other evacuees. They spoke at length about the importance of congressional action on adjustment of status. More:
Today,
#AfghanEvac
sent a letter to Pakistani leaders urging them to consider taking several critical humanitarian steps to ensure the safety and security of our Afghan allies currently residing in Pakistan.
Read it and sign on today!
Starting today,
#AfghanEvac
will be sharing videos from leaders across the federal, state and local government expressing gratitude for volunteers across the relocation and resettlement ecosystem AND welcoming our new Afghan neighbors.
A year ago today at 0620PDT/0920EST/1750 Kabul time, a bomb exploded at the Abbey Gate at HKIA.
170 Afghans and 13 US service members were killed.
This tragedy altered the course of the military evacuation and made an indelible mark on all of our souls.
The credit for getting it this far goes to the entire
#AfghanEvac
ecosystem AND to the government folks who worked hand in hand to ensure congress understand what would happen if they didn't take action.
There is still more to do, but this is an unequivocal win for the team.
The language is out and 12,000 visas for SIVs are in PLUS a program extension to Dec 31, 2025, but we aren't done yet.
The bill will go on the house floor tomorrow morning (as of now).
Then it will go over to the senate, hopefully for final passage. We'll keep you updated.
We need to see the
#AfghanAdjustmentAct
introduced as soon as possible.
#Afghans
didn’t delay their support of our mission and we should not delay our support of their American dream.