WASHINGTON (Dispatches) – Afghans who collaborated with American forces in the 20-year war on Afghanistan and were evacuated to U.S. military bases for protection have been described as “worms” by a racist American immigration official.
Media reports said on Friday that some of these Afghan evacuees who fled Afghanistan over fears of retribution by the Taliban were leaving military bases in the U.S. before being processed and relocated.
Two sources familiar with the matter said many of an unknown number of Afghan evacuees, who were brought into the United States under temporary status following the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, are leaving the U.S. bases without obtaining necessary permits to live in the country.
The Afghans who had left the bases “generally” had ties to the United States, like family members of friends, and resources to support themselves, according to a statement released by a spokesperson of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Some 53,000 Afghans, who fled the Taliban on U.S. evacuation flights, had been given temporary lodging at eight locations until their relocation process is completed.
“It’s a giant can of worms,” said one U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The official warned the Afghan refugees will have many legal problems with the U.S. government in the future.