The plane carrying 221 Afghans in the special visa program, including 57 children and 15 children, landed at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, just outside Washington DC.
The first flight evacuating Afghans working with Americans in Afghanistan on Friday brought more than 200 people to the United States for rehabilitation, including children and children with weapons, and was welcomed home by President Joe Biden.
Evacuation flights carrying former interpreters and others fearing retaliation from Afghanistan’s Taliban for working with US troops and civilians highlight US uncertainty over whether previous US combat forces will leave that country in the coming weeks. After that, how will the government and army of Afghanistan fare?
Family members are on the flight with interpreters, translators and others.
The airliner, carrying 221 Afghans in the special visa program, including 57 children and 15 children, landed at Washington Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, outside Washington, DC, according to an internal US government document obtained by the Associated Press. According to the commercial FlightAware tracking service.
Biden called the flight “an important milestone as we continue to deliver on our promise to the thousands of Afghan citizens who have served shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers and diplomats in Afghanistan over the past 20 years.” He said he wanted to honor military veterans, diplomats and others in the US who have advocated for Afghans.
“Most of all,” Biden said in a statement, “I want to thank these brave Afghans for standing with the United States, and today, I am proud to say to them: Welcome home. .'”
National Security Council Senior Deputy Homeland Security Adviser Russ Travers told reporters on Thursday that while Afghan families were en route, the flight “represents the fulfillment of American commitment and the brave service of these Afghans in supporting our mission in Afghanistan.” “and” in return, help keep our country safe.
The Biden administration calls the effort Operation Ally Refugees. The operation has widespread support from Republican and Democratic lawmakers and veterans groups. Supporters cited repeated examples of Taliban forces targeting Americans or Afghans working with the Afghan government.
Congress on Thursday heavily approved legislation that would allow an additional 8,000 visas and USD 500 million in funding for the Afghan visa program.
Biden announced earlier this year that the US would end its military role in Afghanistan by September 11, honoring a withdrawal agreement reached by former President Donald Trump. Some administrative officials have expressed surprise at the extent and pace of Taliban occupation of rural areas since then.
Biden said that although US troops are leaving Afghanistan, America will continue to support Afghanistan through security assistance to Afghan forces and humanitarian and development assistance to the Afghan people.
The new Afghans will join another 70,000 people who have settled in the United States since 2008 under the special visa program. Subsequent flights are due to bring in more of the approximately 700 applicants who are farthest in the process of obtaining visas, having already obtained approval and cleared security checks.
The first arrivals were screened for COVID-19 and received vaccines if they wanted, US diplomat Tracy Jacobson said.
Jacobson said he was expected to stay in Fort Lee, Virginia, for about seven days, completing medical exams and other final steps. Rehabilitation organizations will help them as they travel to communities across the United States, some bound for family members already here, she said.
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