Joint Letter – Calling on Pakistan to Halt the Relocation of Afghan Visa Applicants

Dear Esteemed Officials of Pakistan,

We are writing as individuals and organizations dedicated to Afghan relocation and resettlement efforts to express our deep concern over recent events in Pakistan which put the safety and security of vulnerable Afghans at great risk. Recent changes and decisions made by the Pakistani government not only impact the lives of those Afghan nationals, but also carry broader humanitarian and national, regional, and international security implications.

Pakistan was a staunch ally to the U.S. during the war in Afghanistan and has long been a sanctuary for millions of Afghan refugees. In addition, thanks to the generosity and hospitality of the people of Pakistan, the country has become home to millions more refugees from the region. While we understand and appreciate the challenges this poses, the recent government notification announcing a plan to deport Afghans is both deeply troubling and concerning. We are particularly concerned that this decision will impact Special Immigration Visa (SIV) applicants, those with referrals to the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), and Humanitarian Parole applicants, all of whom have a pending or approved pathway to legal U.S. immigration.

These individuals include, but are not limited to, former interpreters, journalists, women leaders, and other professionals who face significant risks if returned to Afghanistan. Many Afghans residing in Pakistan are in the late stages of exhaustive vetting processes and are awaiting U.S. visa or refugee status approval. To deport them back to an environment where their lives would be in jeopardy runs counter to humanitarian principles and international accords to which Pakistan is a signatory. Further, it is simply inhumane to treat these vulnerable neighbors in such a manner. At a minimum, we would hope to see an exemption from detention or deportation of Afghans who have pending or approved immigration applications to the United States.

We also write to express our deep concern over the unjust and frequently corrupt practices surrounding exit permits. This problematic process negatively affects everyone, but is disproportionately harmful to women and children, and is being administered in an illogical and unresolvable manner. Specifically, many children who originally entered Pakistan without being required to have a visa are now being denied exit permits on the basis of not having that very visa. Even newborns–who were born AFTER their family’s arrival in Pakistan–are unjustly denied exit permits because they did not possess entry visas, an illogical and unfair situation that families are incapable of resolving. In fact, these practices run counter to the Pakistani government’s effort to decrease the number of Afghans living in the country without immigration status to be there. If the exit permit process were administered fairly or waived entirely, and Afghans who are approved to immigrate to the United States and other nations could get exit visas for their families, the international community could better help Pakistan meet its goals.

Given the gravity of the situation, we respectfully request:

• An immediate halt to the deportation of Afghans who have pending or approved visa applications for entry into the United States or accepted referrals into the USRAP.
• Streamlining the exit permit process to ensure that Afghans with immigration pathways to third countries and who are ready to depart, are able to leave without roadblocks.
• Immediate approval of International Organization for Migration’s request to establish a Resettlement Support Center in Pakistan to assist Afghans in transition and verify their eligibility for resettlement.

We urge you to consider that the deportation of these vulnerable individuals contravenes international obligations surrounding the humane treatment of refugees and asylees including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Pakistan is a signatory.

These deportations would not be consistent with Pakistan’s humanitarian tradition, and if pursued, would certainly adversely impact Pakistan’s relationship with the United States and could cause lasting damage to Pakistan’s reputation among the international community.

Time is of the essence, lives are at stake, and the international community is watching. We strongly urge you to act promptly and compassionately. AfghanEvac would welcome the opportunity to discuss these matters with officials of your government with an eye toward strengthening our cooperation.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this critical issue.