Displaced International Applauds Rep. Michael McCaul’s Call to Resume Resettlement of At-Risk Afghan P1 & P2 Applicants
Displaced International (DI) strongly welcomes and supports Rep. Michael McCaul’s recent statement on Face the Nation, emphasizing the urgent need to protect Afghan allies who stood with the United States in advancing democracy, human rights, and stability in Afghanistan before 2021. His recognition of America’s moral obligation to these individuals is a crucial step toward ensuring their safety and honoring the nation’s commitments.
As Rep. McCaul stated, “Look, we promised them we would protect them when they worked with our servicemen and women in Afghanistan. These are the interpreters, the ones who are right alongside our combat veterans. They have these special immigrant visas and P1, and P2 and it’s my- my view, that they should be allowed to go forward with the SIV program. And they have been vetted, by the way, Margaret, they have been vetted. Unlike some of the other groups they talked about, these have been vetted. They worked with our troops to defeat the Taliban, which, unfortunately, Biden surrendered to. But it seems to me, we ought to live up to our word, otherwise down the road in another conflict, no one’s going to trust us.”
DI Founder & President, Ambassador M. Ashraf Haidari, echoed this urgent call: “As a former asylum seeker in the United States, I deeply appreciate Rep. McCaul’s support for Afghan Priority-1 (P1) and Priority-2 (P2) resettlement applicants. These brave individuals risked everything to uphold freedom, democracy, and human rights while defending the U.S. and the world from terrorism, extremism, and organized crime. They deserve an immediate exemption from the recent USRAP Executive Order—a decision I am confident President Trump and both parties will soon consider.”
The U.S. withdrawal left thousands of Afghans—interpreters, human rights defenders, and civil society leaders—at extreme risk. Many now face persecution, imprisonment, and even death under Taliban rule. As Rep. McCaul rightly pointed out, failing to protect them is not just a national security risk but a betrayal of America’s values and promises.
Displaced International calls for urgent bipartisan action to expedite pathways to safety for Afghan resettlement applicants and their families. We stand ready to assist in their evacuation, resettlement, and integration—ensuring they can rebuild their lives with dignity and security.
Help support our emergency appeals, including aid for Afghan P1 and P2 applicants stranded in Pakistan, where they are struggling to survive until the refugee freeze is lifted.
