Improving Access for Afghan Refugees Act

On behalf of 106 organizations and individuals, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter, made contacts in support of the immediate confirmation of Rashad Hussain as the new Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. It is vitally important that this position be filled. For even as we speak, the cause of religious freedom finds itself in an increasingly precarious position, as we see restrictions on religion rising around the world. Mr. Rashad Hussain is impeccably qualified for the position of Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. He has worked to promote religious freedom for people of all faiths for more than a decade, having served as U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation from 2010-2015 and U.S. Special Envoy for strategic counterterrorism communications from 2015-2017. He currently serves as the Director for Partnerships and Global Engagement at the U.S. National Security Council. The appointment of the new IRF Ambassador will reaffirm the importance of this fundamental human right and assure persecuted communities that America continues to stand for their freedoms. On behalf of 70 organizations and individuals, including the client, who signed a multi-faith letter, made contacts to express concerns about the fate of vulnerable religious minorities in Afghanistan, who face abuses at the hands of the Taliban and its affiliates solely because of their religious beliefs; and to urge the White House and the State Department to create an additional P-2 refugee status category for these Afghan religious minorities or to support Congressional efforts to enlarge the P-2 category on an emergency basis. In short, for many religious minorities their status as believers in a faith not approved by the Taliban is a death sentence. Reports of killings of religious minorities are increasing, and many are in hiding. Hundreds of Shia worshippers were killed or wounded in successive ISIS-K suicide bombings at mosques in Kunduz and in Kandahar on October 2 and October 15, 2021. The United States must act to protect these communities now. Unfortunately, religious minorities were not included when the State Department created a P-2 category for certain Afghan nationals who are at risk of harm on August 2, 2021. Eligibility for a P-2 visa allows individuals who are members of a group that the U.S. government has identified as of special humanitarian concern to apply directly to the US refugee admission program (USRAP), without first having to obtain a US Embassy or NGO referral or having to apply, be processed, and be referred by the UNHCR. Our request is supported by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommendation that the U.S. State Department create a Priority 2 (P-2) category for vulnerable Afghan religious minorities. Similarly, Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) introduced H.R. 4736 on July 28, 2021, with 45 co-sponsors, which would require the State Department to provide for priority refugee slots for Afghans at special risk of persecution, including those at risk due to their religion, race or nationalities. Other groups, including those representing humanists and atheists, have asked for P-2 visas for Afghan religious minorities. Made contacts to secure a meeting for client to discuss the Churchs current situation in Russia, where their religious freedom is being violated.