Nasrin, a 27-year-old Afghan immigrant living in the San Francisco Bay Area, expressed her frustration at not being able to vote in the upcoming US elections in November. Despite this, she wants the presidential candidates to hear the voices of Afghans like herself who fled the country following the US troop withdrawal in August 2021. She worked as an interpreter for the US embassy in Kabul and was able to become a US resident through a Special Immigrant Visa program.
The chaotic nature of the military withdrawal and the swift reestablishment of Taliban rule have cast a long shadow over US politics, with both Democrats and Republicans exchanging blame for the lives lost during the troops’ departure. Many Afghans, including Nasrin and Nazanin, feel that their voices are not being heard by politicians, and that promises made to them have been broken.
Advocacy groups, such as Afghans for a Better Tomorrow, have been pushing for more immigration pathways for Afghans fleeing the Taliban, but little progress has been made. Despite efforts to increase refugee processing for Afghans, critics argue that legal pathways for vulnerable Afghans are still inadequate.
Republicans have used the Afghanistan withdrawal as a partisan tool in the election cycle, with former President Donald Trump criticizing the Biden administration for the chaotic situation. Democrats have been largely silent on the issue, although the Democratic National Committee’s policy platform includes provisions to streamline applications for at-risk Afghan allies and create a pathway to lawful permanent residency for Afghan evacuees.
Legislation such as the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide support for Afghans in the US, has stalled in Congress due to deep partisan divides over immigration. Advocates like Joseph Azam hope that the inclusion of Afghans in the Democratic policy platform signals a potential political opportunity for change in the future.