Philippines to host Afghan nationals awaiting resettlement in US

The United States and the Philippines reached an agreement that will allow Afghan nationals who assisted the United States military in war to stay in the Philippines while they wait for visa processing and resettlement in the U.S. The U.S. government will cover the refugees’ food, housing, security, medical and transportation costs.

The Afghan refugees are waiting for approval of their Special Immigrant Visas, or SIVs, which allow them to obtain lawful permanent residence in the United States.

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To be eligible, U.S. forces must have employed an individual in Afghanistan for at least one year between October 2001 and December 2023. If approved, their spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may accompany them.

If those employees stayed in Afghanistan, their lives could be in danger now that the Taliban has taken over because many provided intelligence against the terrorist organization or translation services to assist U.S. forces.

The State Department did not say how many Afghans would go to the Philippines. A senior Philippine official told The Associated Press that it is a one-time deal for 150 to 300 Afghan nationals.

“The United States appreciates its long and positive history of bilateral cooperation with the Philippines and thanks the Philippine government for supporting Afghan allies of the United States,” the State Department said in a statement.

Congress authorized the program through Dec. 31, 2024. There have been a total of 38,500 visas allocated for Afghan SIVs since 2014. It first began in 2009.

This announcement, made on Monday, Aug. 19, came at the same time the U.S. State Department reaffirmed its commitment to Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. The agreement called for the U.S. and Philippines to aid each other if either comes under armed attack in the Pacific. It includes territory in the South China Sea. The treaty covers the military and Coast Guard, public vessels and aircraft.

The U.S. publicly stated its commitment to the treaty after Chinese ships deliberately collided with Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the South China Sea, causing structural damage to Philippine ships. The State Department called the maneuver reckless.