June 12, 2024
New York, NY
Last Friday, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the U.S. government’s attempt to avoid accountability in Afghan & Iraqi Allies v. Blinken, a class action lawsuit challenging the U.S. government’s failure to adjudicate Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications in a timely manner.
What Was the Decision?
- The U.S. Government’s attempt to abandon a 2020 court-ordered plan was rejected.
- This plan aimed to speed up the adjudication of delayed SIV applications.
- Plaintiffs argued that recent changes did not warrant abandoning the plan.
What Did the Court Affirm?
- The Circuit Court affirmed the denial of the government’s request to terminate the plan.
- The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was cited as a reason for the termination.
IRAP Litigation Staff Attorney, Kimberly Grano, expressed that this decision was a victory for the applicants with the longest-pending applications and a refusal of the government’s attempts to abandon its allies. The ruling plays a crucial role in ensuring the U.S. fulfills its promises to those in need.
Who Supported the Allies?
- Association of Wartime Allies (AWA)
- U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer
- Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker
Additional resources and information on the case can be found on the Refugee Rights website.
Read the decision: HERE
Learn more about the history of the case: HERE
Read about what was at stake in the appeal: HERE
Source: refugeerights.org