We are at a loss as we witness the events unfolding in Afghanistan. 

New figures from UNHCR - the United Nations’ refugee agency - estimate that at least 550,000 Afghans have been displaced since the beginning of this year, updated from an estimated 350,000 just a few days ago. 

The US is on track to accept fewer than 10,000 refugees this fiscal year (ending in October), with only 500 Afghans among them. To put this in an even greater context, over 2 million Afghans have registered as refugees since the US invasion 20 years ago.

Separately, there are as many as 50,000 applicants for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) who remain in Afghanistan now, representing only a small portion of all those who were “affiliated” with the US military, not to mention their families.

This is unacceptable. 
 

Whatever your politics, we feel this should be a moment of unity as we all step up to the responsibility and moral obligation to offer refuge to those who seek it now - not only for those who supported the US-led mission and are at extreme risk now, but especially for the women, girls, and other minorities who suffered so terribly under the first Taliban regime and likely face a similar fate now.

As the partners of the Secure Families Collaborative get in position to support the potential processing, acceptance, and resettlement of some of these refugees in Sonoma County and other parts of the country, we’re calling on you to take action in two ways:

1. Sign this petition calling on the administration to have an open door refugee policy, increase capacity for making referrals for vulnerable Afghans to the Priority-2 (P2) Visa Program, and expedite processing of SIV and P2 applications.
2. Donate to the Collaborative in support of our six member organizations’ coordinated efforts to aid and protect immigrants and refugees in Sonoma County.

Thank you for taking action. We will strive to keep you up to date on how we and Sonoma County are showing up to meet this challenge in the days and weeks ahead. If there are other ways you would like to get involved or if you have resources to share, feel free to reply directly to this email.

In solidarity,
Margaret Flores McCabe
Executive Director