Left Behind: The Plight Of Those Stranded In Afghanistan

The number of people stuck in Afghanistan is unclear. The US government has not released exact figures, but it is believed that thousands of US citizens and residents were unable to leave the country during the evacuation in August 2021. The Biden administration originally stated that only 100-150 Americans were left behind, but a later report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee put the number at 9,000. The State Department has disclosed that as many as 14,000 US legal permanent residents may still be in Afghanistan, and it is estimated that up to 78,000 Afghan allies of the US were also left behind. The situation is particularly dangerous for Afghans with ties to the US, and many are facing persecution and economic deprivation under the Taliban's rule.

The Biden administration originally claimed only 100-150 US citizens were left in Afghanistan

The Biden administration originally claimed that only 100-150 US citizens were left in Afghanistan, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating that the number was closer to 100-150. However, a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revealed that as many as 9,000 Americans were left in the country during the Biden administration's withdrawal. This report was signed by Foreign Relations ranking member Jim Risch of Idaho and contradicted the administration's narrative.

The discrepancy in numbers has sparked outrage and criticism towards the Biden administration, with many outlets reporting evidence contrary to their claims. The report highlights that State Department officials believed there were between 10,000 and 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan as late as August 17, and only 6,000 were able to escape before the Taliban takeover. This indicates a failure on the part of the administration to accurately assess and address the situation.

The Biden administration has defended its actions, stating that they completed one of the biggest airlifts in history, evacuating more than 120,000 people to safety. President Biden emphasized that 90% of Americans in Afghanistan who wanted to leave were able to do so. However, the remaining Americans were left behind, along with thousands of vulnerable Afghans who had assisted the US during the war.

The State Department has faced scrutiny for its slow release of specific numbers regarding US citizens, legal permanent residents, and Afghan allies still in the country. The constantly shifting figures and lack of transparency have fueled criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

The evacuation efforts were further complicated by the need to process special immigrant visas for Afghans who had worked with the US military. The backlog of visa applications left thousands of Afghans stranded, facing persecution and economic deprivation under Taliban rule.

The Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan has been marked by chaos and violence, with the rapid Taliban advance taking many by surprise. Despite the challenges, veterans, diplomats, and religious groups continue to work tirelessly to evacuate those left behind.

The number of US citizens left in Afghanistan is unknown, but estimates range from 100-200 to 9,000

In August 2021, President Joe Biden promised that US troops would remain in Afghanistan beyond the 31st of August if necessary to ensure all US citizens who wanted to leave could get out. However, the last US soldier departed the country on that date, leaving behind a number of US citizens who wished to evacuate.

In the aftermath of the withdrawal, the White House put the number of US citizens remaining in Afghanistan at 100-200. Secretary of State Antony Blinken supported this estimate, saying there were under 200 Americans still in the country. However, a Republican lawmaker suggested the true figure was much higher.

Indeed, a report by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee found that as many as 9,000 Americans were left in Afghanistan during the Biden administration's withdrawal. This is supported by earlier estimates from National Security Officials, who told a bipartisan group of Senate staffers on the 17th of August that about 10,000-15,000 US citizens remained in Afghanistan.

The State Department has insisted that it does not have an exact figure for the number of US citizens left in Afghanistan, and that the number is constantly shifting. However, lawmakers have criticised the State Department for being too slow to release specific numbers and keeping the full scope of people left behind under wraps.

The evacuation of US citizens from Afghanistan is ongoing, with the State Department working to determine exactly how many citizens remain and want to leave.

The US State Department believes 14,000 US legal permanent residents remain in Afghanistan

The US State Department has faced intense scrutiny from Congress about the status of US citizens and green card holders who remain stranded in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover. The State Department initially insisted that it did not have an exact tally of US legal permanent residents (LPRs) in Afghanistan. However, it was later disclosed by a congressional aide that the State Department privately transmitted to aides on Capitol Hill that as many as 14,000 US legal permanent residents remain in Afghanistan. This figure was further supported by Republican Rep. Chris Smith, who questioned Brian McKeon, the deputy secretary of state for management and resources, at a hearing. Despite this, McKeon responded that the State Department does not track LPRs and could not provide a clear answer as to why.

The State Department's lack of clarity on the number of US legal permanent residents in Afghanistan has been a source of frustration for lawmakers, who have criticized the department for its slow response in releasing specific numbers. In the month following the US withdrawal, the State Department repeatedly stated that there were around 100 US citizens still in the country seeking to leave, only to later reveal that the number was closer to 400. This discrepancy has led to accusations that the administration is failing in its duty to keep track of US citizens and residents left behind or is intentionally keeping the full scope of the situation under wraps.

The struggle to extract Americans, green card holders, and those eligible for special immigrant visas has become more challenging with the Taliban's resurgence and the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. The rapid US withdrawal and Taliban takeover left many Afghan allies and their families in hiding, with some being killed by the Taliban or other militant groups. The international community is now facing increasing pressure to address the growing need for humanitarian relief in the country.

The State Department has prioritized the evacuation of US citizens ahead of legal permanent residents and green card holders. However, the exact number of legal permanent residents who want to leave Afghanistan remains unclear. The State Department has stated that it will continue its efforts to help Americans and LPRs depart Afghanistan if they choose to do so.

78,000 Afghans with ties to the US were left behind during the US withdrawal

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has left an estimated 78,000 Afghans with ties to the U.S. stranded in the country. These individuals, who worked for the American government during its 20-year war in Afghanistan, now face a perilous situation under Taliban rule.

The special immigrant visa (SIV) program was established by the U.S. government about a decade ago to help resettle Afghans at risk due to their work with the U.S. military. However, of the approximately 81,000 Afghans who had applied for these visas by the time of the U.S. withdrawal, only about 3,000 were evacuated, according to a report by the nonprofit Association of Wartime Allies.

The report highlights the desperate circumstances faced by those left behind, with their lives "devastated by being left behind with seemingly no verifiable path to safety." It also criticizes the State Department for failing to provide an alternative estimate of how many Afghan SIV applicants have been evacuated since the U.S. withdrawal.

The Biden administration has defended its handling of the evacuation, stating that it is working around the clock to bring out Afghan allies and their families. However, it has yet to release an official estimate of how many Afghan SIV applicants were evacuated.

The situation for Afghans with ties to the U.S. who remain in the country is extremely dangerous. A survey of nearly 4,000 SIV applicants by the Association of Wartime Allies found that nearly 30% had been imprisoned, 52% had been stopped and questioned, 88% had lost their jobs, and 94% were facing economic hardship. Additionally, over 70% had gone without food at least once in the previous month, and nearly 20% had gone without meals ten times during that period.

The Taliban's control of the country's airports and the bureaucratic red tape involved in the visa process have made it difficult for Afghans to escape. The U.S. has been criticized for not doing enough to eliminate these obstacles and facilitate safe passage for its Afghan allies.

Tens of thousands of Afghans who worked with the US military are stuck in a visa backlog

The US government set up the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program to help resettle Afghans at risk due to their work with the US military. However, the program has been marred by lengthy application processes, bureaucratic red tape, and a lack of transparency, leaving thousands of Afghans stuck in a backlog.

The SIV program offers a path to US citizenship for Afghans who worked with the US government and are at risk of Taliban retribution. The congressionally authorized limit of 38,500 SIVs is expected to be reached around the August 2024 anniversary of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, leaving the future of more than 10,000 applicants and their families uncertain.

The slow processing of SIV applications has been a source of frustration for many Afghans who worked with the US military. One applicant, a former interpreter for the US Army, began receiving death threats in 2015 and applied for the SIV program in 2017. Despite his situation becoming increasingly desperate, he is still awaiting a decision on his application.

The backlog in the SIV program is not just a result of slow processing but also the complex and lengthy application process. Applicants must undergo multiple interviews and rigorous medical examinations, and the average wait time is three years. The situation has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted visa interviews for nearly a year.

The US State Department has defended its efforts, stating that it is working around the clock to bring Afghan allies and their families to the US. Between September 2021 and August 2022, the State Department issued approximately 39,100 SIVs. However, critics argue that the government is not doing enough to speed up the process and eliminate bureaucratic obstacles.

The consequences of the backlog are dire, as those left behind face persecution and economic deprivation under the Taliban's rule. A report by the nonprofit Association of Wartime Allies found that nearly 30% of SIV applicants had been imprisoned by the Taliban, and over 70% had gone without food at least once in the previous month.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that many Afghans destroyed documents during the Taliban takeover out of fear of reprisals, making it harder for them to prove their case for a visa. Additionally, obtaining an Afghan passport is challenging and expensive, with reports of bribes reaching up to $2,000.

As a result of these challenges, tens of thousands of Afghans who risked their lives to assist the US military remain stranded in Afghanistan, facing an uncertain future.

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