The Biden administration has struck a compromise with House Republicans to boost the number of resettlement visas for Afghans who aided the U.S., according to lawmakers on Tuesday.
Initially set at 38,500, the limit of Special Immigration Visas (SIVs) was expected to max out around the anniversary of the 2021 U.S. troop withdrawal.
Under the deal, an additional 12,000 visas will be granted, falling short of the 20,000 sought by the administration and Senate Republicans.
Republican Representative Michael McCaul, leading the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced the agreement during a hearing, specifying that the visas would be included in the State Department’s foreign operations funding bill.
Democrat Representative Jason Crow, an Afghanistan veteran who spearheaded efforts to raise the SIV limit, confirmed the 12,000 figure.
Despite the compromise, demand for visas among Afghans remains high, with the program slated to expire in 2026. As of March 1, over 80,000 Afghans were in the visa process, with a quarter already cleared for final interviews and vetting outside of Afghanistan, as per a State Department official.
The agreement was reached amid alarming reports from two former top U.S. generals testifying on Taliban retribution against Afghan allies following the U.S. withdrawal.
Despite opposition fueled by former President Donald Trump and reports of Taliban violence against former officials and soldiers, the compromise is hailed as a step forward.
Representative Crow described the agreement as a victory, acknowledging it falls short of the Senate’s original request but provides more time for a long-term solution and saves more lives.
