Proposal made to grant US visas to Syria’s Kurds
WASHINGTON, USA (North Press) – USRepresentative Jason Crow and Representative Michael Waltz have brought the Syrian Partner Protection Act back to the forefront by calling on Congress to reinstate it last Monday.
This act includes a project that proposes extending the program of granting visas and special immigration papers to some Syrians and their families, specifically the Syrian Kurds who fought ISIS in partnership with the United States.
The Act was first passed in 2019 and the House of Representatives recently revived the Act.
“Syrian Kurds played a pivotal role in helping the US defeat the ISIS Caliphate and have been an instrumental partner in the region,” said Waltz in a joint statement with Crow on Tuesday.
“Our Kurdish allies have put their lives on the line and risked retaliation to help advance U.S. interests and fight our enemies. They deserve our gratitude for their assistance. Congress should acknowledge those who have fought alongside us on the battlefield,” he added.
The State Department used to grant this type of visa to Iraqis and Afghans whose lives were threatened due to their work as translators or advisers to the US forces.
In the context of the House of Representatives’ efforts to increase the number of visas granted to Afghans who have worked with the United States, Rep. Crow stressed that the Kurds deserve treatment equal to America’s partners, Iraqis and Afghans.
The House of Representatives is trying to strengthen the bill amid discussion about the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, which may endanger Afghans who have worked with the United States.
According to US State Department data, the Partner Protection Act brought in 89,000 Iraqis and Afghans who worked with the United States by 2019.