by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector
Topeka — U.S. Army retiree Slade Deister lauded the commitment Thursday by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran to support bipartisan legislation designed to improve federal assistance to Afghans who assisted American service members in the 20-year conflict ending in 2021.
Tens of thousands of Afghan allies who risked their lives to support U.S. involvement in Afghanistan were evacuated and relocated to this country last year, but others remained in Afghanistan or found sanctuary in third countries.
“This is a critical piece of legislation that supports our nation’s veterans and warfighters by ensuring that we honor our allies during America’s longest war,” said Deister, of Leavenworth. “If Congress does not act to support its allies by passing the Afghan Adjustment Act, potential allies in future combat zones are going to be less likely to support the U.S. mission after seeing our Afghan partners abandoned.”
Afghans granted temporary status in the United States on humanitarian grounds who then seek permanent legal residency must work through the asylum system or the Special Immigrant Visa program, both of which have severe backlogs. The legislation cosponsored by Moran would enable these individuals to undergo supplemental vetting in their quest for permanent legal residency.
In addition, the measure would create a task force to craft and implement a strategy for supporting Afghans left behind or residing outside the United States. It would mandate the U.S. State Department respond to congressional inquiries about immigration visa applications.
The immigrant visa program would be expanded by the bill to include Afghan women who served on tactical teams, the Afghan Army special operations command as well as the special mission wing, and the Afghan Air Force.
“The withdrawal from Afghanistan was a dark day in American history,” Moran said. “The rushed and chaotic evacuation from Kabul resulted in the deaths of American service members and stranded thousands of our Afghan allies behind enemy lines.”
He said Afghans stood with U.S. service members for two decades at risk of their lives and the lives of family members. The plea of U.S. veterans and military organizations for additional aid to these people should be answered, the senator said.
“This legislation will put a program in place to protect our national security while also keeping our promise to those who risked their lives for America,” Moran said.
Moran stood in support of the legislation with Republican Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Also endorsing the bill were Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Chris Coons of Delaware and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. A comparable version of the bill has been introduced in the U.S. House.
The U.S. evacuation in Afghanistan led to the greatest military airlift operation since World War II and the death of 13 American service members. U.S. troops departed Aug. 15, 2021, when the country fell to the Taliban.
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