Human Rights First Praises Senate’s Inclusion of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Extension in Appropriations Bill

Washington, D.C.—Human Rights First today applauded members of the Senate Appropriations Committee for including 4,000 visas for the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and extending the program for another year in the FY17 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill that passed out of the Appropriations Committee today. The SIV program was previously reauthorized in the annual National Defense Authorization Act but was blocked this year for procedural reasons.

“We commend Chairman Lindsay Graham and Ranking Member Patrick Leahy for their bipartisan leadership to include 4,000 additional visas in the appropriations bill. If passed, this extension of the SIV program will ensure that Afghans who put their lives on the line to support the U.S. armed forces will be able to seek protection in the United States,” said Human Rights First’s Scott Cooper. “Continuation of this program represents the best of American ideals and supports America’s great tradition and history of providing protection to the most vulnerable refugees.”

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