The Kabul Tribune (KT)-- AfghanEvac, a U.S.-based advocacy group supporting Afghan wartime allies, has welcomed the resumption of U.S. government support for Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) flight loans through the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The group’s president and board chairman, Shawn VanDiver,
said in a statement Friday that the move restores a vital part of the
infrastructure needed to fulfill America’s promise to Afghans who assisted U.S.
forces during the war.
VanDiver clarified that the resumption applies only to
Afghans who already hold approved visas and are located outside Afghanistan.
“These are not flights from Afghanistan,” he said, noting that relocation
flights from within the country remain halted.
The renewed support, he added, is limited to SIV holders and
does not extend to refugee pathways such as P-1, P-2, or P-3 categories.
According to AfghanEvac, the IOM flight loan program was
shut down on the first day of former President Donald Trump’s administration
under Executive Order 14169. In the absence of U.S. government support, a
coalition of NGOs—including AfghanEvac members—helped relocate at least 5,000
individuals to the United States.
“This announcement recognizes that the U.S. cannot outsource
this responsibility,” VanDiver said. “Restoring SIV flight support is an
essential step toward keeping America’s word.”
He emphasized that significant challenges remain,
particularly for thousands of Afghans still waiting inside the country or excluded
from the SIV program.
AfghanEvac reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every
Afghan wartime ally and their family has “a fair and timely chance to reach
safety in the United States.”
