AOC Demands Biden Resettles a 'Minimum' of 200,000 Afghans in U.S
'I would say the rock bottom is 200,000, but I think it should be whatever is necessary'
© press
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has called on Demcorat Joe Biden to resettle a minimum of 200,000 Afghan refugees in the United States.
The socialist Rep said she supports increasing the number of available Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) to 200,000 as thousands of Afghans try to flee the country.
Ocasio-Cortez told The Independent:
"I believe we need to move, and the administration needs to move as quickly as possible and as expansively as possible, ensuring that we are raising the amount of refugee visas to whatever amount is necessary."
"I would say the rock bottom is 200,000, but I think it should be whatever is necessary," she added.
© press
"And that needs to be expedited as soon as possible."
Under the SIV program for Afghans, the U.S has 34,500 visa slots, but that number is being pushed to be increased by both the right and left.
Last month, AOC voted in favor of successful House legislation, which would raise the number by 8,000.
On Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration expects SIV applicants and other Afghans, even though the Taliban said it would n long allow Afghans to leave.
"Our expectation, and what we will continue to convey directly through a range of channels we have, is that the individuals, the Special Immigrant Visa applicants, those who are eligible, those who we are facilitating their departure, will be able to reach the airport," Psaki said.
© press
Neon Nettle reported that up to 100 Afghani evacuees are suspected terrorists who are on intelligence agency watch lists.
The warning was issued on Tuesday as it was revealed that one passenger flown out to Qatar has potential ties to ISIS.
Up to 100 Suspected Terrorists Rescued During Afghanistan Evacuation, Official Warns
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) August 25, 2021
READ MORE: https://t.co/0lBMlbgnf1
The Afghans in the evacuations are potential candidates for Special Immigration Visas (SIV).
However, several were flagged as possible matches to intel agency terror watch lists by the Defense Department's Automated Biometric Identification System, an official with the U.S. government told Defense One.
"Intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals are conducting screening and security vetting for all SIV applicants and other vulnerable Afghans before they are allowed into the United States," a State Department spokesperson told The Daily Mail.
"We are surging resources to evaluate each case and process these as efficiently as possible to protect homeland security."
