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The Biden administration is exploring ways to expedite bringing Afghan refugees to the United States, Fox News has learned.
Refugees in Qatar could potentially be resettled in the U.S. in as little as 30 days – the process usually takes at least two years, according to Axios. The White announced this week the Amir of Qatar will be visiting on Jan. 31.
“The Biden Administration has surged resources and forged creative solutions to vet, screen, and process SIV [Special Immigrant Visa] applicants at an unprecedented pace—despite inheriting a broken system from the previous administration that had not even conducted interviews for SIV applicants in over 300 days and a refugee resettlement program that had been systematically dismantled,” a National Security Council spokesperson told Fox News.
SOME AFGHAN REFUGEE NONPROFITS CALL ON BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO HELP RESETTLE ABANDONED ALLIES
Former President Trump slowed the refugee resettlement process during his term over security concerns.
The Biden administration has been criticized over its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan last summer that left American allies who helped the U.S. during the war behind as the Taliban took over. The administration has also been questioned over reports that many refugees weren’t thoroughly vetted in addition to being screened before being allowed into the U.S. and the situation has been complicated by Russia’s potential invasion of Ukraine.
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The administration is exploring various ways of speeding up the process while still maintaining a robust coronavirus and security screening and vetting process.
Biden officials have also studied the Obama administration’s streamlined processing of Syrian refugees in 2016, Axios reported.
Fox News’ Patrick Ward and Kelly Chernenkoff contributed to this report.