In August 2021, the Biden Administration withdrew all U.S. troops and personnel from Afghanistan in a chaotic operation that stranded American citizens, abandoned Afghan allies, handed control of the country to the Taliban, and caused the deaths of 13 American servicemembers, including Corporal Daegan Page from Red Oak.
When the call for help came, we jumped into action. Through Task Force Argo, a volunteer group consisting of veterans and everyday citizens, we worked to help those left behind. We coordinated airlifts for translators, intelligence officers, and others who risked everything to support our troops.
One of our allies, Nabi Muhammad, served 10 combat deployments as an interpreter alongside U.S. and Iowa Guard forces. With Task Force Argo, we were able to rescue him, his brother — a former Afghan Army Major — and their family, bringing them safely to the U.S.
Zoom out: During the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, local support was key to operational success. That’s why Congress established a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program for Afghan nationals who supported the U.S. mission — serving as interpreters, intelligence support, and contractors. These were the individuals most at risk from being targeted by the Taliban after Biden’s failed withdrawal.
The problem: Many of our allies and their families are still stuck in limbo, without a clear, long-term pathway to safety.Â
And many of the Afghans now residing in the U.S. put their lives on the line for our country, and we have a duty to ensure they are not left behind by Biden-era policies.
The solution: We just joined the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill to honor the service of our allies and expand legal pathways here in the U.S. Â
Our bill would:
✅ Establish a pathway to conditional permanent residency for Afghan parolees
✅ Uphold America’s word to those who served alongside U.S. forces
✅ Give these heroes the security to rebuild their lives in the U.S.
Bottom Line: Thousands of Afghans risked their lives to fight for freedom in Afghanistan. The Biden Administration let them down — we’re fighting to make it right.