Rep. Sherrill Wants Looser Refugee Rules For Fleeing Afghan Women

ESSEX COUNTY — U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill is calling for the creation of a special humanitarian parole category for women leaders in Afghanistan, as the nation continues to reel from political upheaval under Taliban rule.

On Thursday, Sherrill – a Democrat who represents New Jersey’s 11th District – spearheaded a Congressional letter to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Her effort saw support from several other Congress members.

Read the full letter below.

“As the situation in Afghanistan rapidly deteriorates and the Taliban has taken control of Kabul, we appreciate the urgent measures you and the Department of Defense are taking to protect Afghan women leaders and others most at risk for retaliation by the Taliban. We also appreciate the leadership of our colleagues in the Senate who have sent a similar copy of this letter to you.

“We strongly urge you to create a humanitarian parole category specifically for women leaders. Activists, human rights defenders, judges, parliamentarians. journalists and members of the Female Tactical Platoon of the Afghan Special Security Forces, and to streamline the paperwork process to facilitate referrals to allow for fast, humane and efficient relocation to the United States. We also urge you to increase processing capacity within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and to immediately appoint an interagency refugee coordinator. We support your efforts to evacuate those who are applying for humanitarian parole and those applying for Priority I or 2 pathways, including by allocating scats for them on SIV evacuation flights. Finally, the United States should do everything possible to enable charter flights to safely land at and depart the airport even after necessary U.S. Embassy personnel have been evacuated, and that clear instructions for safely accessing their aircraft arc provided to those who are trying to depart and to organizations that have referred people and their dependents.

“We are gravely concerned about the safety of women leaders, activists, judges, parliamentarians and human rights defenders. The shocking violence and alleged atrocities occurring have caused mass displacement which, during a global pandemic and severe drought. has created a major humanitarian crisis. In areas captured by the Taliban, there are reports of war crimes including summary executions, public beatings and flogging of women, sexual violence and forced marriage, as well as clampdowns on media and other forms of communication.

“We and our staff are receiving regular reports regarding the targeting, threatening, kidnapping, torturing, and assassinations of women for their work defending and promoting democracy, equality, higher education, and human rights. While we welcomed the expansion of the eligibility requirements for Special Immigrant Visas and the creation of the Priority 2 category in the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, we must also protect those women who might fall through the cracks of the U.S. Government's response.

“Particularly for women who are currently targets—even hunted by Taliban fighters who are going house-to-house with their names—the path to protection and safety under the Priority 2 designation is not accessible. While we understand there is little processing capacity at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, for these women to access a third country for processing is almost or completely impossible with all border crossings now closed or controlled by the Taliban.

“We greatly appreciate your efforts to help save the lives of Afghans who have advanced U.S. and Afghan joint interests over the last generation, standing for peace, democracy and equality. We are all in agreement that we owe them our unqualified support.”

• See related article: NJ Refugee Agency Awaits Incoming Afghans With Open Arms
• See related article: Sen. Bob Menendez Blames Trump, Biden For Afghanistan Crisis

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