Press releases

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced the Save Our Afghan Allies Act to protect Afghan translators and other allies who played a crucial role helping U.S. forces during the War in Afghanistan. 

“America’s Afghan allies risked their lives and families to help American soldiers, and it’s unthinkable that the U.S. would leave them in the hands of the merciless Taliban. These brave Afghans have no safe haven in their homeland, and the least we can do is guarantee their protection in the U.S. I hope my colleagues join me in passing this bill to give sanctuary to our allies and their families,” said Kennedy. 

The Save Our Afghan Allies Act would direct the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense to develop a plan to relocate and accept Afghan allies and their immediate families to the U.S. before the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the country is completed.

Under the Special Immigrant Visa program, Afghans who helped the U.S. in Afghanistan for a period of at least two years can move to America with their immediate families. Thousands of applicants are still waiting for final visa approval but are running out of time as U.S. forces prepare to leave the country. The Taliban is known for murdering translators and their loved ones, and it already controls much of Afghanistan. 

Text of the Save Our Afghan Allies Act is available here.