Ken Calvert: “For 20 years after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the United States maintained a significant military and…”

“For 20 years after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, the United States maintained a significant military and diplomatic presence in Afghanistan. As part of that effort, we asked the people of Afghanistan to trust the United States and to work with us to support the Afghan National Government and build a new future for their nation. Obviously, we did not succeed. Tens of thousands of Afghans stood shoulder to shoulder with U.S. troops and diplomats serving in Afghanistan over two decades. They did so at great risk to their own lives and the lives of their families. When we withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, we evacuated over 100,000 Afghans. Why? It is because we knew what would happen when the Taliban would return to power. Those Afghans and their families who had assisted U.S. operations would be subject to the vengeful retribution of the Taliban. Not all of those who were evacuated came to the United States, but many did. The least we could do to repay their assistance was to help the Afghans who risked everything for us to start new lives. The temporary protected status designation that they received was essential to keeping them safe.”