Philippines to Welcome Afghan Refugees Seeking US Visas

August 20, 2024 TruthUSA

The U.S. government has committed to providing ‘necessary services’ for Afghan individuals staying temporarily in the Philippines as part of a mutual agreement.

The State Department announced on Monday that the Philippines has agreed to a U.S. request to host a limited number of Afghan nationals temporarily while they go through the resettlement process for the United States.

Both countries have agreed to allow Afghan nationals to pass through the Philippines as they finalize their special immigrant visas for entry into the United States, as stated by the department in a report.

As part of the arrangement, the U.S. government will supply necessary services to Afghan individuals staying in the country, including food, housing, security, medical assistance, and transportation.

In a statement, the State Department expressed gratitude for the Philippines’ historical cooperation and support in aiding U.S. allies from Afghanistan.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the agreement and is in the final stages of completing the necessary domestic procedures for its implementation, as confirmed.

No specific details on the agreement, such as the number of Afghan nationals allowed or the length of their stay in the Philippines, have been disclosed by either party.

The Philippine government revealed last June that it assessed the request following discussions between President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Washington.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez mentioned at the time that Afghans would undergo a screening process and be returned to their home country if their entry application is denied, as reported by a government news agency.

Although Washington initially made the request in 2022, Marcos stated in June 2023 that the U.S. proposal presented several security concerns and legal/logistical challenges, as indicated by local media Benar News.

Tens of thousands of Afghans left their homeland when the Taliban assumed power in August 2021 after U.S. troops withdrew from Afghanistan. Last year, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported 6.4 million Afghan refugees globally.

Special immigrant visas are accessible to Afghan nationals who meet specific criteria, served the U.S. government in Afghanistan, or qualify for resettlement in the U.S., according to the U.S. Agency for International Development.

This agreement highlights the growing partnership between the U.S. and the Philippines under the Marcos administration. Last year, the two nations reached an agreement to enhance U.S. military access to Philippine bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, as reported.

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