The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, together with the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, has held a hearing to review the “parole” immigration program.
The hearing, held on Wednesday, January 14, warned of security risks facing Afghans who cooperated with the United States and stressed that recent decisions by the Trump administration to suspend refugee programs and return asylum seekers have put the lives of thousands of Afghans at risk.
Experts attending the session cited women involved in medical projects and members of the former Afghan government’s security forces who, due to the suspension of refugee processing, now face the prospect of being sent back to Afghanistan and subjected to severe Taliban restrictions.
The committees called for an immediate review of refugee policies and the continuation of support for Afghan allies of the United States to prevent threats to their lives and violations of their rights.