09.29.21

Cantwell, Colleagues Urge Biden to Create Two Specialized Positions to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Afghanistan

Cantwell-led letter calls on administration to create position in the White House and a special envoy at the State Department

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell joined Rabbi Will Berkovitz, CEO of Seattle-based Jewish Family Service (JFS), for a press conference highlighting Senator Cantwell’s letter to President Biden calling on the administration to designate two high-level officials to coordinate efforts aimed at rescuing Americans and Afghans who remain at high risk inside Afghanistan. Senators Cardin (D-MD), Murray (D-WA), Blumenthal (D-CT), Feinstein (D-CA), Van Hollen (D-MD), Whitehouse (D-RI), Warren (D-MA), Wyden (D-OR), Booker (D-NJ), Heinrich (D-NM), Smith (D-MN), Reed (D-RI) joined Cantwell in signing the letter. 

“The reason why we sent the letter is we know that we still have many people in Afghanistan that are stuck there, and they need the U.S.’s continued help and support. We're talking about some American citizens, immigrant visa holders, journalists — including Voice of America, and NGO contractors who worked for the U.S. Embassy, or for humanitarian programs, or work with Jewish Family Services, and others that weren't evacuated by that August 31st deadline,” said Senator Cantwell.

In the letter, Senator Cantwell and her colleagues urge the Biden administration to create two specialized leadership positions to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. One position would be within the White House to oversee the operational challenges of providing safe passage from Afghanistan for American citizens, lawful permanent residents, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants and holders, and the many other Afghans at risk whom we promised to assist following the withdrawal of American forces.

The other position is a Special Envoy at the State Department to oversee diplomatic efforts with allies and partners to hold the Taliban accountable to the commitments it has made regarding the freedom of movement, humanitarian support for the Afghan people, protecting Afghan women and girls, and to work to provide safe passage for those seeking refugee status or asylum.

In August, Senator Cantwell joined 45 of her Senate colleagues in urging the Biden administration to take swift, robust action to protect and support Afghan women leaders facing danger following the Taliban’s seizure of Kabul. Cantwell’s office is currently working on 1,800 open cases of individuals seeking safe passage out of Afghanistan.

Following a briefing on Afghanistan and U.S. evacuations, Cantwell stated, “I remain committed to the continued evacuations of Americans and our Afghan partners, and to providing humanitarian support to the Afghan people.”

A transcript of Cantwell’s remarks is available HERE.

Video of Cantwell’s remarks is available HERE, audio is available HERE.

A video of the full press conference is available HERE.

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below.

September 27, 2021

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

President of the United States

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington D.C. 20500

 

Dear President Biden:

We are writing to ask you to create two specialized leadership positions to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. We ask that you appoint a lead person within the Executive Office of the President to oversee the operational challenges of providing safe passage from Afghanistan for American citizens, lawful permanent residents, Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants and holders, and other Afghans at risk whom we promised to assist following the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan. Further, we ask you to establish a Special Envoy at the State Department to marshal our diplomatic efforts with allies and partners to hold the Taliban accountable to the commitments it has made with regard to freedom of movement, humanitarian support for the Afghan people, and protecting Afghan women and girls.

We realize that having no U.S. presence in Afghanistan makes helping those who we have promised to evacuate much harder – but the government must remain committed to negotiations with the Taliban, working with third-countries, making it possible for Afghans to obtain official exit documents (some of whom are reaching Pakistan only to be returned to the Taliban in Afghanistan for lack of documentation), and critically, working with former service members and humanitarian organizations to get evacuees out of Afghanistan.

The situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, as the Taliban search for Afghans that helped coalition forces as well as their families. Many of these people have been forced into hiding, moving from house to house to evade torture, capture or execution. The United States must continue to support their evacuation from the country.

In addition to the approximately 100 American citizens that the State Department estimates remain in Afghanistan, we know of many judges, educators, journalists (including Voice of America journalists and their families), and others who are now being persecuted under the Taliban regime, along with many individuals who assisted U.S. humanitarian assistance programs but were not evacuated by the August 31 deadline.

As you know, there are also tens of thousands of individuals trying to leave Afghanistan as refugees or asylum seekers. Women, girls, LGBTQIA+ individuals, religious leaders, former Afghan government workers, anti-Taliban activists, and even NGO contractors who worked for the U.S. Embassy have been threatened or attacked by the Taliban and continue to be at great risk. The numbers of those at risk is growing as Afghans give shelter to those individuals the Taliban are hunting.

The U.S. must develop a comprehensive plan to deal with these challenges. To do so, and to execute on that plan, we believe there needs to be dedicated, overarching leadership at the highest level within the administration. With the deteriorating conditions on the ground, we need to marshal the resources across government as well as the humanitarian assistance community, with centralized leadership in the Executive Office of the President. Enhanced interagency coordination is also necessary for effective screening of the large number of SIVs and other Afghan nationals both for U.S. national security interests and for faster processing. There must also be government coordination with and assistance to U.S. humanitarian groups. All of this must be done rapidly and with purpose.

Finally, a new Special Envoy at the State Department with a broad remit is needed to lead efforts with the international community, to coordinate with countries adjacent to Afghanistan and to hold the Taliban accountable to the commitments it made on freedom of movement, humanitarian support for the Afghan people, and protecting Afghan women and girls. Operationally, the Taliban need outside assistance in operating an international airport. There must also be deeper cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other international humanitarian organizations.

Rescuing Americans is a floor not a ceiling. A focus on evacuating Americans – to the exclusion of others we have promised to get out – is unacceptable. Civilian lives are in danger and the United States’ international reputation is at risk. While we are pleased that you designated a lead to oversee the administration's Afghan resettlement effort in the United States, we urge you to fill these senior government roles to provide leadership for an accelerated, orderly effort to bring the thousands of people in Afghanistan at risk to safety.

Thank you for the consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

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