The Canadian government on Friday announced that it will resettle 20,000 vulnerable Afghans facing threats from the Taliban and being forced to flee as Taliban edges closer to assuming total control of Afghanistan.
The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that the government is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and assured that its teams across the world are working “around the clock to bring as many people as possible.” IRCC also said that its special immigration program has already brought many Afghans to Canada and that it will continue to use this program for Afghans who contributed to Canada’s efforts in Afghanistan.
Additionally, IRCC stated that it will introduce a special program to focus on bringing in “particularly vulnerable groups” including women leaders, human rights defenders, journalists, persecuted religious minorities, LGBTI individuals, and family members of previously resettled interpreters. The program will welcome both government-supported and privately sponsored refugees, including those sponsored by family already in Canada.
IRCC assured that the processing timelines for entry will be expedited while the usual admissibility requirements continue to apply, and encouraged other Canadian citizens to lend a hand in this resettlement effort to the extent that they can if they so desire. IRCC noted an “outpouring of goodwill from Canadians across the country, who are eager to open their homes and their hearts,” and pointed particularly to the government’s partnership with the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation to resettle numerous persecuted Afghan Sikhs and Hindus. Through these efforts, the government hopes to offer these individuals a permanent home in Canada and shoulder the burden of Afghanistan’s neighboring countries.
Canada’s Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino, Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau and Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan released a joint statement on the resettlement plan/program:
Offering refuge to the world’s most vulnerable speaks to who we are as Canadians, particularly in times of crisis. As more Afghan refugees continue to seek shelter in Canada, we’re redoubling our efforts to help 20,000 Afghans refugees—who remain vulnerable wherever they go—find safety here. The situation in Afghanistan is heartbreaking, and Canada will not stand idly by…Canadians are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan….Afghans have put their lives at great risk to support Canada in helping Afghans achieve significant democratic, human rights, education, health and security gains over the past twenty years. We owe them a debt of gratitude and we will continue our efforts to bring them to safety.
Meanwhile, south of the border, the Biden Administration is facing severe criticism from both independent commentators and US veterans for not doing enough to resettle Afghan interpreters who helped the US effort in Afghanistan. One former US Marine criticized the last minute planning and the needless bureaucracy slowing down the resettlement efforts while Phil Caruso, a former Air Force officer and military adviser to the State Department, suggested that the government’s only viable option at this point is to “forget the visas” and perform security screening on the plane. Caruso offered his help stating “If anyone has a 747 or A380 we can borrow, please let me know.” Despite also facing criticism for his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden remained steadfast in his position to end US troop presence in Afghanistan.
