The Great Escape: Unraveling The Complexities Of Americans Leaving Afghanistan

In 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, prompting the U.S. government to evacuate American citizens from the country. Initially, the State Department stated that those seeking flights out of Afghanistan would have to sign promissory notes for about $2,000. However, this decision faced significant backlash, leading the State Department to quickly reverse its position. President Joe Biden committed to evacuating all Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan, even if it meant missing the initial deadline for the full withdrawal of U.S. troops. The U.S. government urged American citizens in Afghanistan to depart immediately via commercial means if possible and offered assistance to those seeking help.

The U.S. government initially charged $2,000 per evacuation but quickly backtracked after backlash

On 14 August 2021, the U.S. Department of State's Overseas Security Advisory Council released an alert stating that American citizens seeking evacuation flights from Afghanistan could have to pay $2,000 or more per person. The alert specified that:

> "Repatriation flights are not free, and passengers will be required to sign a promissory loan agreement and may not be eligible to renew their U.S. passports until the loan is repaid. The cost may be $2,000 USD or more per person."

The State Department's position was that it was bound by law to charge people for evacuation flights. According to the department, U.S. law requires that the assisted evacuation of U.S. citizens or third-country nationals be provided "on a reimbursable basis to the maximum extent practicable". The amount billed to evacuees is typically based on the cost of a full-fare economy flight or comparable alternate transportation.

However, the State Department's position faced immediate backlash. Hundreds of Twitter users, including Senator Ted Cruz, shared a screenshot of a Politico report stating that State Department staff were seeking payments of up to $2,000 from American passengers and higher fees from non-U.S. citizens. Cruz called the report "indefensible", saying:

> "First Biden abandons Bagram Air Field, for no reason. Then they strand 1000s of Americans behind enemy lines. Now they’re charging American citizens (money bags emojis) to escape with their lives? Ridiculous."

In response to the backlash, the State Department quickly reversed its position. On 19 August, State Department spokesman Ned Price told Politico and other outlets:

> "In these unique circumstances, we have no intention of seeking any reimbursement from those fleeing Afghanistan."

When Politico asked the State Department if it would stop asking evacuees to sign promissory notes, Price replied "Yes".

The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan suspended operations and cannot provide consular services to U.S. citizens

The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan has been closed since August 31, 2021, when the U.S. government withdrew its personnel from Kabul. The Embassy is therefore unable to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan who require routine consular services can contact any U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan for assistance. However, the U.S. government's ability to assist U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan who are seeking U.S. government assistance to depart the country should email their complete biographic details and contact information (including an email address and phone number), as well as their U.S. passport number, to [email protected].

U.S. citizens can also contact the Consular Affairs Afghanistan Call Center at 833-741-2777 or 606-260-4379, or refer to the Embassy's web page and social media channels for further information.

The Department of State's Travel Advisory for Afghanistan is Level 4: Do Not Travel, due to armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, terrorism, and kidnapping. All travel to Afghanistan is unsafe, and U.S. citizens should not travel to Afghanistan for any reason.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately via commercial means if possible

The U.S. government has urged U.S. citizens in Afghanistan to depart immediately by any commercial means possible. This comes after the Taliban's return to power and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul suspending its operations, leaving the U.S. government unable to provide emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in the country. The security situation in Afghanistan is highly unstable, with a critical threat to U.S. citizens from terrorism, kidnapping, wrongful detention, and crime.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan seeking government assistance to depart should email their complete biographic details, contact information, and U.S. passport number to [email protected]. They can also contact any U.S. embassy or consulate outside of Afghanistan for assistance. However, the ability of the U.S. government to assist U.S. citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited.

It is important to note that U.S. citizens travelling to Afghanistan require a valid passport and Afghan visa to enter and exit the country. Arriving without a valid visa can result in deportation, passport confiscation, and heavy fines. Overstaying a visa can also lead to fines and deportation. Additionally, U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are subject to Afghan laws and can be arrested, prosecuted, and punished according to those laws, even for actions that are not illegal in the U.S.

The U.S. government initially considered charging citizens seeking evacuation flights from Afghanistan a fee of $2,000 or more per person. However, due to backlash, the State Department quickly backtracked on this decision. As a result, U.S. citizens do not have to pay to get out of Afghanistan, and the government is committed to evacuating those who wish to leave.

The U.S. government is committed to evacuating all Americans who want to leave Afghanistan

In the final days, as the U.S. was set to withdraw forces, the Taliban seized and overtook the presidential palace in Kabul on August 15, 2021, after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, leading to the collapse of the Afghan government. The Pentagon sent in 6,000 troops, the U.S. Embassy in Kabul was evacuated, and chaos enveloped the capital city, bringing the 20-year war to a grim end.

Since August 14, 2021, U.S. military aircraft have evacuated more than 79,000 civilians from Hamid Karzai International Airport, including 6,000 Americans and more than 73,500 third-country nationals and Afghan civilians. In total, U.S. and coalition aircraft combined to evacuate more than 123,000 civilians.

President Joe Biden has defended his administration's quick withdrawal, saying there "was no consensus" in the intelligence reports that would have indicated a Taliban takeover in just 11 days. Biden said that if the U.S. could ramp up evacuation numbers to 5,000 or 7,000 a day, it would successfully meet his timeline. The Pentagon said that 2,000 people, including 325 American citizens, had been evacuated over the previous 24 hours.

Biden has committed to evacuating every American who wants to leave Afghanistan and said he would seek to extract Afghan allies, but he cautioned that the mission is dangerous and didn't rule out losses. Biden said:

> "I cannot promise what the final outcome will be or that it will be without risk of loss, but as commander in chief, I can assure you that I will mobilize every resource necessary."

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are at risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime

The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 Travel Advisory for Afghanistan, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to the country for any reason due to the high risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime. The Taliban, who took over Afghanistan in 2021, have been known to harass and detain aid and humanitarian workers, and there is a significant risk of wrongful detention of U.S. citizens by the Taliban. The reasons for detention are often unclear, and foreigners' activities may be viewed with suspicion. Even those registered with the appropriate authorities to conduct business are at high risk of detention.

The U.S. Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations, and the U.S. government is unable to provide any emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Afghanistan. The Taliban do not regularly permit the United States to conduct welfare checks on detained U.S. citizens, and detention can be lengthy. During detention, U.S. citizens have limited or no access to medical attention and may be subject to physical abuse.

U.S. citizens in Afghanistan are urged to depart immediately via commercial means if possible. Those seeking U.S. government assistance in leaving the country should email their complete biographic details, contact information, and U.S. passport number to [email protected]. The Department of State will continue to provide information via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), Embassy Kabul's web page, Travel.State.Gov, Facebook, and Twitter.

If U.S. citizens choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Afghanistan, they should take several precautions. This includes following the Department of State on social media, reviewing personal security plans, being aware of their surroundings and local security developments, and notifying a trusted person of their travel and movement plans. They should also make contingency plans to leave when it is safe to do so, without relying on U.S. government assistance. Additionally, it is recommended to draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney, as well as discuss plans with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, and other personal matters.

Frequently asked questions