California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 22

Introduced by Assembly Member Gorell

May 21, 2013

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 22—Relative to the federal Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AJR 22, as introduced, Gorell. The federal Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009.

This measure would call upon the United States Congress and the President’s administration to expedite actions at the United States Department of State to process the visa applications of Afghan allies who have been identified and vetted by the United States military or other agencies as having risked their lives by supporting and working for United States troops overseas, and to expand the number of visas offered to our Afghans allies.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Thousands of Californians served in uniform in
the war in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Countless local Afghan nationals provided trusted
and life-saving support to Americans and their allies in Afghanistan
as interpreters, advisors, liaisons, and other functionaries; and

WHEREAS, More than 8,000 Afghani interpreters worked for
the United States during the conflict, risking the lives of their
families and themselves to assist American troops and the United
States government; and

WHEREAS, It was recently pointed out in the New York Times
that with United States Armed Forces currently withdrawing from
Afghanistan, many of the local nationals who provided support to
American forces are now the target of Taliban and other insurgent
attacks. In February 2013, two interpreters were gunned down in
Logar Province, south of Kabul, Afghanistan. In December 2012,
an interpreter working in Jalalabad was singled out while heading
home on leave, and Taliban assailants killed his two brothers in
the attack; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations has reported that casualties
resulting from targeted killings of civilians by antigovernment
elements increased by 53 percent in the first six months of 2012,
in comparison to the corresponding period in 2011; and

WHEREAS, The federal Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009
authorizes the issuance of up to 1,500 special immigrant visas
(SIVs) annually through the 2013 fiscal year to Afghan nationals
who have worked for or on behalf of the United States Government
in Afghanistan and who find their lives in danger as a consequence
of their employment; and

WHEREAS, Although 7,500 SIVs were intended to be issued
by the federal Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, only about
1,000 have been issued to date, and as of last fall, there was a
backlog of more than 5,000 applicants waiting to begin the process.
This delay further risks the lives of important, dedicated allies who
have already risked their lives in the call of duty to our soldiers
and our country; and

WHEREAS, There are significant differences between the visa
programs created for Iraq and Afghanistan. While the Iraq program
allowed for up to 25,000 visas, the Afghan Allies Protection Act
of 2009 only makes 7,500 visas available. Additionally, the Afghan
visa program limits family members to only a spouse and
dependent children under 21 years of age, while the Iraq program
allowed for parents, siblings, and all children; and

WHEREAS, The Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009 presents
the opportunity to save the lives of Afghans who saved the lives
of Americans and to maintain our commitment to these important
allies who are in harm’s way; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature calls upon the United States
Congress and the President’s administration to expedite actions at
the United States Department of State to process the visa
applications of our Afghan allies who have been identified and
vetted by the United States military or other agencies as having
risked their lives by supporting and working for United States
troops overseas, and to expand the number of visas offered to our
Afghan allies; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, the Speaker of the House of Representative, the Leader of
the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader
of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and each Senator
and Representative from California in the Congress of the United
States.