AfghanEvac has organized an open letter to the Trump administration and 119th Congress leaders.
Please sign using our form on this page to make your voice heard in support of the ongoing relocation and resettlement effort.
Letter remains open until Monday January 27, 2025
Asks
The letter calls on the incoming administration and Congress to:
Make clear their plan for continuing Afghan ally relocation and resettlement efforts.
Fulfill America’s commitments to Afghan allies who stood with U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan.
Ensure robust support for ongoing relocation, resettlement, and pathways to permanent status for Afghan allies and their families.
These asks emphasize the moral and strategic necessity of honoring commitments made to those who risked their lives in support of the U.S. mission.
Representation
The letter demonstrates broad, bipartisan support, with signatories representing a cross-section of America, including:
Veterans. Many who served alongside Afghan allies in conflict zones.
Frontline civilians. Non-uniformed individuals who worked in conflict zones, such as diplomats, aid workers, and contractors.
Elected officials. Current and former representatives of broad swaths of the American experience, reflecting the broad bipartisan nature of support for the ongoing effort.
Advocates and leaders. Grassroots volunteers, nonprofit leaders, and high-profile figures from the public and private sectors.
The letter to the incoming Trump administration and the 119th Congress emphasizes the critical need to continue Afghan ally relocation and resettlement efforts. Failure to heed this call will result in severe consequences, detailed below:
Immediate and Personal Impacts
Families in Limbo—Department of Defense servicemembers' families and Afghan allies will remain stranded in Afghanistan or on processing platforms, facing prolonged uncertainty and hardship.
Separated Families—Without a clear path to reunification, families will endure extended emotional and psychological distress, undermining family unity and well-being.
Lives at Risk—Afghan allies who supported U.S. forces are at heightened risk of persecution, imprisonment, or execution under the current regime, facing dire threats to their safety and lives.
Strategic and Operational Consequences
Erosion of Global Trust—Neglecting our commitments to Afghan allies will cause current and future partners to question the reliability of U.S. promises, weakening alliances and international cooperation.
Recruitment Challenges—The U.S. military and government agencies may struggle to find local partners willing to collaborate in future operations, knowing prior allies were abandoned.
Intelligence Gaps—A failure to protect Afghan allies discourages vital local intelligence contributions, compromising U.S. national security efforts and situational awareness.
Broader National Security Risks
Increased Radicalization—Abandoning Afghan allies could fuel anti-American sentiment, providing extremist groups with propaganda to recruit and radicalize individuals against the U.S.
Damage to U.S. Reputation—Inability to uphold commitments tarnishes America's global image as a defender of freedom and human rights, diminishing its moral authority and influence.
Domestic and Humanitarian Concerns
Moral Injury to Veterans—U.S. veterans who served alongside Afghan allies may experience deep moral injury, exacerbating mental health challenges and feelings of betrayal.
Humanitarian Crisis Costs—Inaction risks broader regional instability, leading to increased humanitarian crises and straining international aid resources.
Loss of Rights for Women and Girls—Afghan women and girls left behind face repression and loss of opportunities for education and employment, reversing progress made over the past two decades.
It is imperative that the incoming administration and Congress act decisively to prevent these outcomes by continuing robust support for Afghan ally relocation and resettlement efforts.