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Senate Majority Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Predictions of disaster for Democrats aren't guarantees of midterm failure Voting rights and Senate wrongs MORE (D-N.Y.)is calling on theBiden administration to address significant barriersthat are blocking tens of thousands of at-risk Afghansfrom finding safe havenin the U.S.

In a letter sent to Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Biden clarifies any Russian movement into Ukraine 'is an invasion' Blinken calls for 'global action' against Russia amid Ukraine tensions MORE andSecretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro MayorkasAlejandro MayorkasDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans A review of President Biden's first year on border policy Rift grows between Biden and immigration advocates MORE on Thursday, the majority leader and 14Senate Democratscalled for the top officials to addressreports of high denial rates for Afghans seeking humanitarian parole, totaling an estimated35,000 people.

The senators single outDHS's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as putting in place an untenably high standard of proof at-risk Afghans must provide toqualify for humanitarian parole, a status that allows vulnerable people to enter the U.S. inanemergencysituationor for an urgent humanitarian reason.

The Los Angeles Times in December reported that USCIS had so far approved only 135 humanitarian parole applications out ofnearly 30,000submissions, and cited immigration lawyers beginning to receive denials for their clients.

The senators criticize DHS as putting in place unrealistic requirements such that at-risk Afghans need to provide documentation from a third-party source specifically naming the applicant and outlining the harms they face.

These standards mean that the majority of potentially eligible Afghan applicants will likely be denied parole, as given the chaos surrounding the U.S. exit from Afghanistan in August, many have fled to third countries or do not have written documentation of threats from the Taliban, the senators wrote.

About 74,000 Afghans were evacuated to the U.S. amid the American exit from Afghanistan but an estimated 35,000 have fled to other countries out of fear of violent reprisal from the Taliban over their work in a host of fields viewed as antithetical to the groups strict interpretation of Islam.

This includes oppression of women in general, who arelargely barredfrom working, attending school, or going out in public without a male escort; and those who worked with Western governments and organizations in the fields of law enforcement and justice; activists, journalists; and former government workers.

The senators raise in their letter that many Afghans fled Taliban rule on the advice of the U.S. to apply for humanitarian parole and that the Biden administration hasa national security imperative tofulfillits commitments.

We strongly believe that the United States must remain true to its commitments to protect vulnerable Afghans through advancing a fair, transparent, andexpeditioushumanitarian parole process, through which Afghans both in and outside of Afghanistan will have the opportunity to seeksafe havenin the United States, the senators wrote.

This is not only a moral imperative, but critical for our interests in being seen as a credible, honest, and loyal international partner, and essential for our national security. We urge your prompt attention to this critical issue.

In addition to Schumer, the letter was signed bySen.Bob MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezDems block Cruz's Nord Stream 2 sanctions bill Overnight Defense & National Security Differences remain between NATO, Russia Senate Democrats unveil bill sanctioning Russia over Ukraine MORE (D-N.J.), the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Other signatories included Sens. Tim KaineTimothy (Tim) Michael KaineDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Manchin, Sinema join GOP to sink filibuster change for voting bill Desperate Dems signal support for cutting Biden bill down in size MORE (D-Va.), Chris Van HollenChristopher (Chris) Van HollenDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Former Maryland rep announces bid for old House seat Hogan won't say if he will file to run for Senate by Feb. 22 deadline MORE (D-Md.), Jeff MerkleyJeff MerkleyDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Manchin, Sinema join GOP to sink filibuster change for voting bill Senate GOP blocks election bill, setting up filibuster face-off MORE (D-Ore.), Cory BookerCory BookerDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Bass raises nearly million since launching LA mayor campaign CNN legal analyst knocks GOP senator over remark on Biden nominee MORE (D-N.J.), Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Biden stiff arms progressives on the Postal Service Trump by the numbers: 2024 isn't simple MORE (D-Mass.), Bernie SandersBernie SandersDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Briahna Joy Gray: Last-minute push for voting legislation felt 'perfomative' Biden stiff arms progressives on the Postal Service MORE (I-Vt.), Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Eight senators ask Biden to reverse course on Trump-era solar tariffs Infrastructure spending should not facilitate sawing down our National Forests MORE (D-R.I.), Tom CarperThomas (Tom) Richard CarperDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Overnight Energy & Environment Lummis holds up Biden EPA picks GOP senator blocks Biden EPA nominees over coal plant decision MORE (D-Del.), Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Schumer opted for modest rules reform after pushback from moderates Sanders, 50 Democrats unveil bill to send N95 masks to all Americans MORE (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tina SmithTina Flint SmithDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans Climate advocates hopeful after Manchin spending comments Overnight Energy & Environment Manchin raises hopes on climate spending MORE (D-Minn.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Tammy DuckworthLadda (Tammy) Tammy DuckworthDemocrats calls on Biden administration to ease entry to US for at-risk Afghans We must learn from the Afghanistan experience starting with the withdrawal As democracy withers, Bob Dole and other American soldiers must be remembered MORE (D-Ill.).

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