Afghan applicants for the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program have made a demand. They want the Trump Administration to investigate evacuation efforts. These efforts were conducted by non-profit organizations from 2021 to the current time. This call comes amid allegations of widespread corruption and mismanagement during and after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Kauser News Agency, under the leadership of CEO Naweed Yousufi, conducted a thorough investigation into the 2021 evacuation process. Interviews with over 70 individuals, including 20 on record, shed light on troubling practices. The investigation revealed that many individuals evacuated to the United States had little or no connection to U.S. government operations in Afghanistan, while long-time Afghan allies were left behind.
Claims of Corruption in SIV , P-1, and P-2 Programs
The investigation exposed a pattern of corruption dating back to 2019. Reports show that individuals paid between $2,000 and $15,000. They paid for fraudulent HR and recommendation letters. These were allegedly issued by Afghan-American and U.S. citizens. After the events of August 2021, these payments reportedly increased. Individuals paid between $4,000 and $10,000 to gain access to Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport for evacuation.
Sources in Kabul have expressed their willingness to testify before the U.S. government. They claim some non-profit organizations participated in corrupt practices. Key individuals involved in maintaining the P-1, P-2, and SIV programs were also involved. These allegations include prioritizing unqualified evacuees over those who had faithfully served U.S. interests for nearly two decades.
Afghan SIV applicants argue that many evacuees transported to the United States after 2021 did not work with the U.S. government. This accounts for up to 70% of them. This was during the 20-year presence in Afghanistan. There are claims about individuals with connections to Iranian, Pakistani, ISIS-K, and Taliban sleeper cells. They were allegedly included in the evacuations. This raises concerns about national security risks to U.S. citizens and the government.
In 2024, Naweed Yousufi conducted an undercover investigation. He uncovered extra evidence of ongoing corruption in the SIV , P-1, and P-2 programs. His findings, submitted to the Trump office and Congress, highlight the need for transparency and accountability in these programs.
Afghan SIV applicants have urged the Trump Administration to reopen the files of all evacuees who arrived in the U.S. after 2021. They also want the administration to review these files. They believe such a review is essential. It will restore integrity to the immigration process. It will also guarantee that individuals genuinely deserving of protection are prioritized.
The revelations from Kauser News Agency emphasize the urgent need for oversight and reform in the Afghan evacuation process. The U.S. must tackle these allegations. At the same time, it is crucial to honor commitments to Afghan allies. Ensuring the safety and security of the American people is essential.
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