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Speaker 0 asked how many Afghans have been admitted to the United States through parole since the fall of Kabul, and whether the administration will review each individual’s status on a case-by-case basis as the two-year parole period expires. Speaker 1 replied that he would be pleased to provide the data but does not have it at the moment. Speaker 0 asserted that 70,192 Afghans were brought to the United States and placed on parole for two years, and again pressed the question of whether each individual’s status would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis as parole periods come to an end.
Speaker 1 described the program as Operation Allies Welcome, a government initiative designed to provide refuge for many individuals. He stated that they were screened and vetted by government personnel and that they were brought in on categorical parole. When parole periods are subject to renewal, he said, they will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Speaker 0 then referenced Fort McCoy in his state, noting that two years earlier the commander there said individuals were not interviewed on a case-by-case basis. He argued that Afghanistan, a region described as a terror hotbed, should have used the Special Immigrant Visa process, but the previous administration did not route those who came in from Afghanistan through the SIV. He asked about the damage caused at Fort McCoy during the period when more than 12,000 Afghans arrived.
Speaker 1 responded by reiterating that the individuals who benefited from Operation Allies Welcome were indeed screened and vetted by government personnel and were brought in on categorical parole, not through the Special Immigrant Visa process. He then stated that Fort McCoy sustained $145,600,000 in damage and that the place was virtually destroyed. He concluded the exchange with a brief transition, signaling a move to another topic.