Colombia, like 12 other countries, is part of a small group of nations that agreed to temporarily house thousands of Afghans they are fleeing this country and the final destination would be United States. The situation has sparked many questions about Washington’s reasons for seeking residency in territories other than its own.
The explanation revolves around on both fronts.
(Read more: Teams from Colombia and the US coordinate details for the arrival of Afghans)
logistical challenge
The first is logistics. Since the Taliban rose to power on August 14, thousands of nationals have flown to Kabul airport trying to escape a regime that will most likely try to retaliate. .
Especially against those people who collaborated with EE. UU. And other Western nations over the past two decades of occupation.
The exact figure is unknown, but this Sunday the Department of State has indicated that at least 30,000 people have already been evacuated and thousands more are still staying at the airport or trying to get there.
This is a race against the clock as the president Joe Biden he pledged to take out the last of his men this August 31 and no one knows what the Taliban will do from that date.
While EE. UU. It has been evacuating 2,000 people a day, military planes are out of reach and commercial airlines have had to be called upon to lend a hand.
Given the need to evacuate these people as quickly as possible, EE. UU. It has chosen to locate first in some transit countries such as Britain, Denmark, Kuwait, Qatar, which are closer and where they will go through a background check process.
A key step, as no one knows if among those who are escaping are people with terrorist background.
In addition, the space he had available at the military bases he owns in this area of the planet is already occupied and his priority is, above all, to remove as soon as possible the thousands of Americans who were also trapped in the Afghanistan.
administrative processes
The second is administrative. The flow of refugees is so great that EE. In the United States, it does not have the capacity to carry out the necessary migration procedures in such a short time to relocate them to its territory.
In addition to this process, which in some cases can take several months, you need to provide them with a place to live, food, medical services and work permits. Something that also takes time.
Since EE. UU. It is a country of federal structure, the Biden administration needs to negotiate with the states the arrival of the Afghans. And some, like Texas, they have refused to receive them.
Afghan passengers while waiting to leave Kabul airport.
Likewise, while it may make use of emergency funds, it is also urging a budget to advance operations that must be approved by Congress.
And that’s where the 13 countries who have pledged to give them refuge while EE. UU. it is advancing in the formalities and is preparing for its arrival.
In the case of Colombia, it would be about 4,000, according to the two governments. In the region, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico and Canada they have also promised to collaborate with Washington.
In a way, given the proportions, this is a concept similar to what they are using with immigrants arriving at the southern border, who are welcomed by the Government of Mexico while their migration processes are resolved.
Biden is also well aware that the issue is politically explosive, as many Republicans oppose immigration –Donald Trump he won the election in 2016 thanks to this stance- and a disorderly flow of Afghans entering the country could prove costly.
Especially if any of them end up being an extremist.
This Sunday, Biden reiterated that EE. UU. It would open the doors to Afghans who collaborated with the US. UU. During the war, but making it clear that a rigorous background check will be done to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the security of their country.
SERGIO GÓMEZ MASERI
EL TEMPS correspondent
Washington
On Twitter @ sergom68
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