QUESTION:  There are thousands of Afghans, as you know, who have worked for the United States in Afghanistan who now feel under direct threat – translators, engineers, local partners, their families.  Now, there’s a visa program that would allow about 18,000 of these individuals to come to the United States, but it’s an arduous and lengthy process, one that’s been slowed down even further because of COVID.  What are you doing to accelerate the process so these allies of the United States who are in fear of their lives, that they’re out by September 11th?

SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Yeah, Jake, I’m really, really glad you flagged that because it’s – it is vitally important.  We’ve had this program in Iraq and also in Afghanistan, and yes, we want to make sure that people who have put their lives on the line working with American folks in uniform, working with our diplomats – who’ve put not just themselves in jeopardy, potentially their families as well – can get expedited consideration if they decide that they want to try to come to the United States.  And you’re exactly right; we’ve got about 18,000 people already in the pipeline, 9,000 of whom who are relatively far along, another 9,000 are just at the beginning of the process.  And clearly, more are likely to sign up.

So we are working very hard to make sure that we’ve got in place the resources to work that program, to work it quickly, expeditiously.  When I was up talking to the House and the Senate about Afghanistan, one of the things that I focused on was the need for us all to come together and make sure that program has the resources it needs.