State Department fires leaders of Afghan relocation efforts

Afghan refugees line up to board a C- Globemaster in Kabul August Defense Department photo The Department of State sent layoff notices to all members of the leadership organization coordinating Afghan relocation efforts on Friday signaling a marked departure from the United States purported commitment to Afghan allies The layoffs which were approved by the San Diego-based coalition AfghanEvac come amid the Trump administration s plan to reorganize the State Department which began cutting its workforce by around On Friday the Associated Press communicated that the department had fired more than staffers The Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts or CARE office was formed in after the U S governing body withdrew from Afghanistan CARE focused on relocating and processing vulnerable individuals including Afghans American citizens refugees and Special Immigrant Visa Holders at peril in Afghanistan due to their association with the United States According to AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver CARE helped to relocate nearly Afghan allies and their family members since its inception CARE was mandated by Congress through and the federal authorities has yet to announce a new coordinator for Afghan relocation The CARE contact center is also set to shut down at the end of July according to VanDiver This isn t just a plan decision it s a moral collapse read a message from AfghanEvac At a time when Afghans are still stuck in harm s way including in U S custody abroad the people who made our administration s majority of effective coordination effort viable are being shown the door