They fought for the U.S. in Afghanistan. Now they worry about losing their green cards
Hundreds of Afghans who assisted U.S. forces and were granted Special Immigrant Visas are now facing the potential revocation of their green cards. These individuals, who have since built lives in the U.S., are struggling to navigate legal uncertainty and government notices regarding their status.
Why it matters
This situation highlights the ongoing administrative and moral challenges facing Afghan allies who were promised protection for their service to the U.S. government.
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Hundreds of Afghans who fought alongside U.S. troops and supported the U.S. government in Afghanistan are now worried their green cards could be revoked.
In Afghanistan, their efforts ranged from custodial jobs at the U.S. embassy, to technology and engineering roles with U.S. contractors and companies. Some were on the frontlines of combat as interpreters.
In the years leading up to the U.S.'s chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Kabul , Congress and the Biden administration facilitated several programs for Afghans involved in military efforts to come to the U.S. with their families. Among them is the Special Immigrant Visa for Afghans, which was authorized in 2009. Since then, the State Department has issued 160,000 of those visas . More than half of them were granted since the U.S. closed its embassy in Kabul in 2021.
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