MATSUI LEADS EFFORT TO SECURE VITAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST AFGHAN EVACUEES

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, urging them to provide congressional offices with vital resources to aid Afghan allies and their families as they evacuate Kabul.

Over the course of the evacuation process, sporadic and inaccurate information about gate openings at Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) has led Afghan families and allies to closed gates, gates guarded by foreign officials, or gates with different or multiple names. This lack of clarity has been particularly difficult for those with young children and older family members, who have found themselves in dangerous situations of physical unrest and confusion over entry to the airport.

The letter urges the Administration to immediately provide accurate, up-to-date travel and security information to Afghan allies attempting to access HKIA to support safe passage out of the country. Congresswoman Matsui is also advocating for the enforcement of a safe travel corridor beyond the airport to ensure Afghans can safely reach the airport.

The Sacramento region is home to one of the largest Afghan communities in the nation, totaling nearly 12,000 people.

The full letter is available HERE and below:

Dear Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin,

I write today to express extreme concern about the safety of our Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) allies and their families still in Afghanistan. These Afghans risked their lives, and the lives of their families, to support the United States with the hope of one day creating a democratically engaged country and I believe it is a moral imperative to support their immediate passage to safety.

The Sacramento region is home to nearly 12,000 Afghan people, one of the largest populations in the United States. I am proud to represent these Afghans who have given so much and have found a strong community in Northern California. However, the developments of the past year have reopened many old wounds and left countless family members in an extremely dangerous and volatile situation in Afghanistan. This evacuation has disproportionately impacted the residents and families of Sacramento many with family members still in Afghanistan.

As a Member of Congress, my staff and I have relied upon the most up-to-date information and resources available to my constituents and their families in Afghanistan. Yet, we are finding that the information, specifically about Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA) gate openings, has been sporadic and inaccurate. In some cases, the provided information has led families to closed gates, gates guarded by foreign officials, or gates with different or multiple names.

Accordingly, I request that the State Department work with the Department of Defense to provide Congressional offices with a centralized resource that can be shared to provide an orderly and up-to-date guide for entrance and consular processing. These communications must explicitly state which gates are accepting people and what requirements are essential for entrance.

I have heard from constituent family members that have had documents approved, but are struggling to get inside the boundaries of the airport. This is unacceptable. The Taliban's presence around the airport requires accurate information, and unnecessary travel can place families in dangerous situations.

Additionally, the U.S. must enforce a safe travel corridor beyond the airport. The ability for Afghans to cross Kabul to reach HKIA, particularly for those with young children and older family members, is nearly impossible. A safe travel corridor is essential to maximize capacity. This corridor must extend to the airport gates to ensure order and avoid stampedes and unrest. I look forward to working with you on this pressing matter.

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