State Department focus will include Special Immigrant Visa program.
The State Department’s inspector general is launching a series of investigations into the end of diplomatic operations in Afghanistan. Reviews by the internal watchdog will focus on the department’s Special Immigration Visa program: Afghans processed for refugee admission into the United States; resettlement of those refugees and visa recipients; and the emergency evacuation of the American Embassy in Kabul “to include evacuation of U.S. citizens and Afghan nationals.”
The inspector general for the Pentagon also has at least three reviews related to the evacuation that are underway. It is possible other agencies and departments’ inspectors general also will probe exactly what happened. In addition, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction may investigate the events.
Many have claimed the botched evacuation was partly the result of a failure to properly coordinate among multiple departments and agencies in the weeks and months after President Biden ordered a full withdrawal of U.S. forces from that country.
On Monday, the State Department’s acting inspector general, Diana Shaw, notified Congress of her investigations. In her letter to the leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as the intelligence committees of both chambers, she stated, “Given the elevated interest in this work by Congress and the unique circumstances requiring coordination across the Inspector General community, I wanted to notify our committees of jurisdiction of this important work.” She said that the investigation will include “several oversight projects” related to the end of the U.S. military and diplomatic missions in Afghanistan.
An unknown number of Americans remain in Afghanistan along with Afghanis who have special refugee status. Veterans groups and others have said they will not rest until America’s promise to get them all out has been realized.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the inspectors general as they investigate the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
- For Americans and others who remain in Afghanistan and desire to get out.
Sources: Politico, New York Times
