Padilla Statement on U.S. Military Withdrawal from Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the United States military ended its evacuation process in Afghanistan:
“Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to the service members, diplomats, and our allies on the ground who worked tirelessly to evacuate over 120,000 Americans and Afghans from Kabul – the largest airlift in U.S. history. And we must never forget the sacrifice and contributions of those who bravely served before them over the last two decades.
“While our military mission has come to an end, we must stay committed to safely and swiftly evacuating remaining Americans and Afghan allies. We have a moral obligation to honor our commitment and stand with those who stood side-by-side with U.S. troops and assisted in our efforts on the ground in Afghanistan. That’s why I’m continuing to urge the Biden administration to leverage all available resources to support the evacuation of Americans and vulnerable Afghans who remain in Afghanistan.
“As the State Department continues the diplomatic mission to evacuate and relocate at-risk individuals to the United States, I believe we must have a humanitarian parole category for Afghan women and girls, human rights leaders, journalists, and others who face retaliation from the Taliban. I strongly support the safe relocation of Afghan refugees, evacuees, and parolees to California. My team and I will continue to do all that we can to assist in that process and help them find the safety they deserve, including ongoing coordination with the Governor’s office and non-governmental organizations key to their successful resettlement.”
Senator Padilla’s office has worked alongside the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense to help evacuate U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and vulnerable Afghan allies eligible to come to the United States and will continue to communicate information regarding services for refugees as they become available.
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