On September 20, the Alliance signed onto a letter with other US news organizations urging President Biden, Secretary Blinken, and Secretary Mayorkas to expedite processing P-2 applications for Afghan evacuees. This process is crucial for Afghan families and individuals to find work and rebuild their lives. The letter explains that the P-2 program is best suited for Afghan refugees—not the asylum claim and filing process that the State Department told the New York Times they would begin using for Afghans currently in the United States. The government should clarify the application process, support the ongoing evacuation process, and prioritize the safety and long term stability of Afghan evacuees.
Members of the News/Media Alliance staff have contributed to this post.