MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has agreed to a request by america to briefly host a U.S. immigrant visa processing middle for a restricted variety of Afghan nationals aspiring to resettle in America, the treaty allies introduced Tuesday.
The Philippine authorities’s approval of the request, which initially confronted native issues over potential safety and authorized points, displays how relations between Manila and Washington have deepened beneath President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took workplace in 2022.
The Division of Overseas Affairs in Manila stated the settlement was present process ultimate home procedures earlier than it takes impact. It didn’t present different particulars, together with what number of Afghans could be allowed to briefly keep within the Philippines at any time whereas their particular immigrant visas for resettlement to the U.S. are being accomplished.
“The U.S. authorities is supporting mandatory companies for these Afghans briefly within the Philippines, together with meals, housing, safety, medical and transportation to finish visa processing,” the Philippine international affairs division stated in a press release.
The U.S. thanked the Philippines in a press release by the State Division “for supporting Afghan allies of america” and added that it “appreciates its lengthy and constructive historical past of bilateral cooperation with the Philippines.”
The Afghan nationals to be thought-about for resettlement primarily labored for the U.S. authorities in Afghanistan or had been deemed eligible for U.S. particular immigrant visas however had been left behind when Washington withdrew from the nation as Taliban militants took again energy in a chaotic interval in 2021.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken first relayed the request to his Philippine counterpart in 2022, and President Joe Biden mentioned the request when Marcos visited america final 12 months, Philippine officers stated.
Marcos stated final 12 months that he was informed by American officers {that a} most of 1,000 Afghan nationals could be allowed to remain within the Philippines at anybody time whereas their particular immigrant visas are being processed.
He stated on the time there have been tough authorized and logistical points to handle for this system to run as hoped.
Some Filipino officers have expressed fears the Afghan nationals may turn out to be targets of assaults whereas within the Philippines. Others raised authorized questions on an association the place U.S. authorities would have a say in vetting who may enter the Philippines.
One potential downside is what to do with Afghan nationals whose U.S. particular visa immigrant utility is indefinitely stalled or rejected, Marcos stated and expressed concern that 1000’s of Afghan nationals may very well be stranded within the nation whereas awaiting relocation to the U.S.
Marcos has rekindled relations with the U.S. since successful the presidency with a landslide margin two years in the past.
In February final 12 months, he allowed an growth of the American army presence beneath a 2014 protection settlement in a choice that China warned would enable American forces to realize a staging floor to intervene within the South China Sea and Taiwan points and threaten regional stability.
