Buck assists US citizens stranded in Afghanistan

Congressman Buck is using his office resources, such as caseworkers and foreign affairs staffers, to help United States citizens stranded in Afghanistan. The Congressman set up a dedicated email address and has a caseworker assisting U.S. citizens attempting to safely return to America, and for potential SIV status individuals, like Afghan interpreters who helped U.S. forces against the Taliban over the years. There is a real threat to these individuals’ lives – many SIVs we spoke to have the proper paperwork but getting past the Taliban checkpoints at the Kabul airport is dangerous.

Statement from Congressman Buck: “I have been deeply disappointed by President Biden and his Administration’s weak response in Afghanistan. The fact that The State Department cannot guarantee the safety of U.S. citizens traveling to the airport is unacceptable. It is essential that the United States protect our citizens as they seek to immediately and safely return home. My office will do everything we can to assist Americans during this dire situation.”

Over the past 48 hours, our office has received the following inquiries and casework related to Afghanistan:

• 219 calls 
• Counseled and opened casework for 56 individuals 
• Counseled and gave information to 18 SIV status individuals 
• Assisted people from California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin. We also helped provide information to people from Sweden and Canada. 
• Our team has successfully helped 4 U.S. Citizens safely fly out of Afghanistan 
• Congressman Buck has reached out directly to DoD and the Joint Chief’s office in regards to an Army Vet’s Afghan interpreter from Broomfield, CO. He is doing everything he can to get this interpreter SIV status, as he fears Taliban retaliation. 

Congressman Buck and his staff will continue to assist and counsel U.S. citizens seeking to safely leave Afghanistan and return home. He will do everything in his power to advocate and get the relevant information to individuals who contact our office.

Here are a couple of concerning messages that our office has received from individuals attempting to flee Afghanistan:

“I've learned from our U.S. citizen friend that the Taliban has also blocked access / entry at the Camp Sullivan gate to the airport. She has made at least 2 attempts -- currently, the US Deputy Secretary of State Sherman has just held a press conference stating she is "not aware of any Americans who have been trying to get to the airport who were not allowed through," and that the Taliban "has honored its commitment to allowing Americans to leave" but this is clearly not true. My family has attempted to get to the gate at the airport 3 times. The crowds are too big. They were beat with sticks by members of the Taliban.”

“Great speaking with you earlier. Attached is the notice the state department had been sending out that directed the Afghans to camp sullivan, but they were turned away and engaged by the Taliban. My contact made it out safe and is now at the redacted, but each passing minute puts him more at risk. The Taliban have established a gauntlet to get to HKIA, which makes me very nervous for redacted.”