Critical Report Exposes Failures of US' Special Immigrant Visa Program

Delays in the SIV program are costing lives. Urgent reform is needed to protect interpreters who risked their lives for the US.

, and Administrator

2025 October 7 . 3:06 AM

1 min read

In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text... — In the image there is a book with army tank and jeeps on it, it seems like a war along with a text above it.

Critical Report Exposes Failures of US' Special Immigrant Visa Program

A critical report by Noah Coburn has shed light on the failures of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which aims to protect interpreters who served the US in Iraq and Afghanistan. The program, intended to manage applications endorsed by the Defense Department, has been marred by inefficiencies, delays, and under-resourcing, putting lives at risk.

Since the start of the post-9/11 wars, over eleven thousand interpreters have been killed, with many deaths attributed to retaliation for their service. In Afghanistan alone, over three hundred interpreters and their family members have lost their lives since 2014. Coburn's report, published in 2021 for the 'Costs of War' project at Brown University, highlights the real and deadly consequences of processing delays.

Many SIV applicants, who have rendered invaluable service to the US, are now at risk due to these delays. Critics argue that granting asylum to former interpreters drains talent from the Iraqi and Afghan populaces. However, the number of applicants is infinitesimal compared to the overall population. Reforming the SIV program is seen as both a moral obligation and a vital national security imperative. It supports the US's ability to recruit next-generation Americans with critical cultural and language skills.

The Biden administration has acknowledged the urgent need for reform, issuing an executive order for a full review of the SIV program. Recommendations for improvement are awaited, with the hope that swift action will prevent further loss of life and ensure that those who served the US are protected.