A plane carrying Afghan nationals headed for resettlement in the United States arrived in the Philippines on Monday, where they will stay temporarily as their visa applications are processed, officials from the Philippine and US governments announced.
The Afghans, who either worked for the US government in Afghanistan or are eligible for US special immigrant visas, were left behind after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. Under a one-time agreement between the two countries, 300 applicants will be accommodated in the Philippines for up to 100 days, officials said during a press briefing.
“These are not dangerous refugees,” a Philippine official emphasized, noting that the individuals had been extensively vetted and cleared through medical screenings. Each applicant has a Philippine visa and will stay at a designated facility, with their US visa processing expected to be completed within 59 days. They will remain confined to the facility unless summoned to the US Embassy in Manila.
The US State Department assured that the arrangement would not disrupt regular visa operations at its Manila embassy. In cases of visa delays or rejections, the Afghan nationals will be relocated to another country, officials added.
The US government will cover all expenses, including housing, security, food, medical, and transportation costs for the Afghans during their stay in the Philippines. The exact location of the facility remains undisclosed to protect the privacy and safety of the individuals, many of whom are children.
The temporary arrangement, approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in September 2024, follows a commitment made during his visit to Washington in May 2022. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez highlighted the country’s history of providing sanctuary to displaced individuals, likening the current initiative to the resettlement of Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s.
“This is the right thing to do,” Romualdez said, reiterating the Philippines’ longstanding support for its ally, the United States.
