WELCOME TO MANILA Some 300 Afghan nationals, amongst them kids, arrive within the Philippines aboard a chartered flight on Monday to finish the processing of their US particular immigrant visas for his or her immigration to the US. They’re allowed to remain within the nation for a most of 59 days. —Picture courtesy of US Embassy
MANILA, Philippines — About 300 Afghan nationals—no less than half of them minors—arrived within the Philippines on Monday aboard a chartered flight to finish the processing of their particular immigrant visas (SIVs) for his or her resettlement to the US.
Underneath an settlement between Washington and Manila signed in 2024, not a single peso is anticipated to be spent by the Filipino individuals because the US authorities will present all needed providers for the SIV candidates throughout their short-term keep within the Philippines, together with meals, housing, medical care, safety and transportation till their visas have been processed.
Division of International Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza mentioned the Afghan nationals had been offered entry visas after that they had accomplished in depth safety vetting and undergone full medical screenings previous to their arrival.
The candidates will keep in a safe, undisclosed billet facility and will likely be allowed to depart solely as soon as to attend their consular interview on the US Embassy in Manila.
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This was opposite to a plan mentioned in an earlier Senate listening to led by Sen. Imee Marcos, one of many critics of the joint mission, for the candidates to depart the billet facility for medical screenings, because the US authorities had organized for all medical exams to be accomplished in Afghanistan earlier than their departure for Manila.
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Higher life within the US
The Afghan nationals looking for resettlement primarily labored for the US authorities in Afghanistan or had been deemed eligible for SIVs however had been left behind when Washington withdrew from the nation and Taliban militants took again energy in a chaotic interval in 2021.
A US Division of State official, in a current briefing, shared the background of the Afghan nationals, describing them as people and households “who took the prospect to return and work” for the US authorities, sharing their dream of constructing public well being and schooling for a greater future for the kids.
“They wished us to succeed with these applications … to create a greater life for his or her youngsters and their onerous work helped us lots however ultimately quick ahead to August 2021 it labored and the federal government fell,” the US official mentioned, referring to the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul.
“So Individuals, notably those that labored so onerous there, assume we owe them the longer term that we tried to construct of their nation in America. And we’re very grateful to you, this authorities, you Filipino individuals, for serving to us,” the official added.
A senior Philippine official, who additionally requested to not be named on this report, shared related sentiments, emphasizing that the joint mission displays the 2 international locations’ shared dedication.
“Let everybody be clear that that is about our shared need and our shared dedication to offer the kids, ladies, and males who’re a part of this whole mission the chance to begin anew and to rebuild their lives with hope in a greater future,” mentioned the official.
Not a hazard to society
The official clarified that the Afghan nationals are usually not refugees.
“These individuals are not thought-about to be a hazard to our society and to the communities through which they are going to be hosted quickly as their visas are processed right here,” the official mentioned throughout a briefing forward of the Afghan nationals’ arrival.
In accordance with the Philippine official, this system will final solely 100 days, which means all SIV candidates should depart the Philippines by March.
Nonetheless, their particular person keep is capped at a most of 59 days.
If, for any cause, they can not full visa processing throughout the designated interval or are deemed ineligible to remain, they are going to be required to depart the Philippines.
The US authorities assured the Philippines that any unprocessed candidates can be relocated to a different nation or platform, the official added.
For the reason that US authorities will bear all prices for the sustainment of the candidates whereas they’re within the Philippines, the association is subsequently “anticipated to generate companies and jobs within the host group,” the official famous.
“The US authorities, in collaboration with the Worldwide Group for Migration as facility supervisor, will make sure the candidates, particularly kids, obtain sufficient social, academic, non secular and emotional assist throughout their keep,” the official mentioned.
“This was by no means a requirement on the a part of the US. This was a request, this was a joint mission that we had with the US authorities, and there was by no means any strain [or] negotiating leverage exercised in opposition to us in regard to this specific mission,” the Philippine official added.
The US authorities formalized its proposal for this joint mission in October 2022 by means of a “idea be aware” submitted to Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez.
Rekindled relations
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken first relayed the request to his Philippine counterpart in 2022, and President Joe Biden mentioned the request with President Marcos when he visited the US final yr.
The settlement was formally signed on July 29, 2024.
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Mr. Marcos has rekindled relations with the US since profitable the presidency by a landslide margin two years in the past. —with experiences from AP and PNA
