U.S. to start evacuating Afghans who helped military in late July

Afghan interpreters ask the U.S for help during a protest.
(Image credit: Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

Later this month, the United States will start evacuating Afghan translators and interpreters who worked for the U.S. military, the White House announced Wednesday.

As part of Operation Allies Refuge, people who have already applied for special immigrant visas will be put on flights out of Afghanistan, starting the last week of July. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters she would not say how many people are eligible, for "operational and security reasons." She said the United States' "objective is to get individuals who are eligible relocated out of the country" prior to the withdrawal of U.S. troops at the end of August.

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"The reason that we are taking these steps is because these are courageous individuals," Psaki said. "We want to make sure we recognize and value the role they've played over the last several years."

The Biden administration has not said where the Afghans will go as they wait for their visas to be approved. Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday that there are several "potential candidates," but no final decision has been made.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.