'We owe it to these people': Turner, African American Mayors Association vow to help Afghan refugees

Sylvester Turner, Houston mayor and president of the African American Mayors Association, recently said that the organization will help Afghan refugees that come to the U.S. 

As the U.S. military continues operations to leave the country of Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans have arrived in the U.S. following the Taliban's return to power in the South Asian nation, according to Reuters. 

“For decades, thousands of Afghan people put their lives on the line to combat the brutality of the Taliban and support humanitarian work in Afghanistan,” Turner said in a statement. “Now that the Taliban have taken over, all of these heroes – from translators to technical staff to transportation specialists – are at risk of violent retaliation from the Taliban. And people across the country, particularly women, are in danger of losing fundamental rights.”

Among those who fled are those who assisted the Americans during the 20-year war. A humanitarian visa known as a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) have been made available to these refugees and their families. 

“Unfortunately, it is a painful reality that many in our country believe that welcoming refugees is dangerous,” Turner said in a statement. “Allow me to assuage those fears: Every person who enters this country as a refugee undergoes an incredibly extensive vetting process to ensure they support our country and will help it thrive. There is no question that the people who enter deserve to be here, and will strengthen local communities.”

Afghans applying for the SIV will go to U.S. military bases in Virginia, Texas, Wisconsin and New Jersey and must undergo a 14-step application process that includes a visa interview and security screening, Reuters reported. After their processing is done, Afghans will be connected with a U.S. refugee resettlement organization which will help them obtain housing, employment and support services.

“@OurMayors will work with governors and the @WhiteHouse to ensure our nation welcomes as many refugees as possible,” Turner wrote in an Aug. 25 Twitter post. “So many Afghan people put their lives at risk to support our country. We owe it to these people to offer refuge and not leave them behind.”

Refugee resettlement organizations have reported that the short notice evacuation notice has left them rushing to find reasonable accommodations and supplies for incoming refugees. 

In Texas, one refugee group petitioned for vacant Airbnb units to take in refugees and their families.

Reuters reports that roughly 5,000 SIV applicants have already been evacuated from Afghanistan with approximately 65,000 SIV applicants and family members still waiting to be evacuated from Afghanistan.