To: President Donald Trump
President Obama: Protect Iraqi and Afghan nationals who assisted US military and/or worked for ...
President Obama, please take immediate steps to protect these Iraqi and Afghan nationals from reprisals in their respective countries. All those who assisted the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan and have requested asylum for themselves and their families should be promptly evacuated to American-controlled locations such as military bases where they can reside in safety while their visa applications are being processed.
While living in those locations, they should be given shelter, food, and other necessities. And, their visa applications should be expedited. Approval or denial of their applications should be decided within 90 days of their evacuation. This is the least we can do for those who have risked death to help us.
Longer term, the policy of ensuring the safety of locals who assist American military or civilian contractors should be codified into U.S. law. If the immigration bill which recently passed in the U.S. Senate doesn't provide for this, or if such a provision is missing from the bill when/if it finally passes in the House, new legislation needs to be introduced. Mr. President, please direct those in your administration to take whatever actions are available to the executive branch to see that this happens. Thank you.
While living in those locations, they should be given shelter, food, and other necessities. And, their visa applications should be expedited. Approval or denial of their applications should be decided within 90 days of their evacuation. This is the least we can do for those who have risked death to help us.
Longer term, the policy of ensuring the safety of locals who assist American military or civilian contractors should be codified into U.S. law. If the immigration bill which recently passed in the U.S. Senate doesn't provide for this, or if such a provision is missing from the bill when/if it finally passes in the House, new legislation needs to be introduced. Mr. President, please direct those in your administration to take whatever actions are available to the executive branch to see that this happens. Thank you.
Why is this important?
Foreign nationals who risk their lives to assist the United States when we are conducting military actions in their country deserve our protection, both during and after their service. We have an obligation to do everything possible to ensure their safety and that of their families. With respect to Iraq and Afghanistan, we have not yet done enough to protect those who assisted us and some of them have already been murdered by anti-American groups. We cannot allow this to continue.
Thousands of Iraqi and Afghani individuals who assisted American forces and civilian contractors are still in harm's way in their respective countries despite requesting asylum in the United States. In many instances, they've had visa requests in process for years without concrete progress or conclusion.
In a recent episode of the radio show This American Life (episode #499 entitled "Taking Names"), the plight of these individuals and their families was described. Despite trying to the best of their ability to comply with U.S. visa requirements, many of them have been stuck in limbo for extended periods which has left them vulnerable to reprisals from anti-American elements in their respective countries.
The episode relates the particularly heartbreaking case of an Iraqi referred to as "Omar" (not his real name) whose repeated attempts to obtain visas for himself and his family dragged on until June 2012 when he was found beheaded by unknown assailants. According to U.S. military sources and the civilian contractor who employed Omar from 2004 to 2006 in construction work, he was an excellent employee. Yet, he was abandoned and ultimately died a horrible death because he chose to assist Americans during the Iraq War.
It is unconscionable for the United States to request locals to assist us and then leave them and their loved ones exposed to reprisals from anti-American groups. It should be part of the deal that we guarantee protection for them and their families both while they are working for us and afterward.
Failing to provide such protection is not only morally indefensible but also poor foreign policy. If America becomes known as a country which doesn't protect those we ask to help us, how can we expect locals to assist us in future conflicts?
Thousands of Iraqi and Afghani individuals who assisted American forces and civilian contractors are still in harm's way in their respective countries despite requesting asylum in the United States. In many instances, they've had visa requests in process for years without concrete progress or conclusion.
In a recent episode of the radio show This American Life (episode #499 entitled "Taking Names"), the plight of these individuals and their families was described. Despite trying to the best of their ability to comply with U.S. visa requirements, many of them have been stuck in limbo for extended periods which has left them vulnerable to reprisals from anti-American elements in their respective countries.
The episode relates the particularly heartbreaking case of an Iraqi referred to as "Omar" (not his real name) whose repeated attempts to obtain visas for himself and his family dragged on until June 2012 when he was found beheaded by unknown assailants. According to U.S. military sources and the civilian contractor who employed Omar from 2004 to 2006 in construction work, he was an excellent employee. Yet, he was abandoned and ultimately died a horrible death because he chose to assist Americans during the Iraq War.
It is unconscionable for the United States to request locals to assist us and then leave them and their loved ones exposed to reprisals from anti-American groups. It should be part of the deal that we guarantee protection for them and their families both while they are working for us and afterward.
Failing to provide such protection is not only morally indefensible but also poor foreign policy. If America becomes known as a country which doesn't protect those we ask to help us, how can we expect locals to assist us in future conflicts?