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Transcript/ScriptMidterms US Afghan Voters
HEADLINE: Afghan Americans Voting With Eye Toward Afghan Refugee Issues
TEASER: Of importance is passage of Afghan Adjustment Act, which would give refugees path to citizenship when their parole expires
PUBLISHED AT: 11/07/2022 at 10:33 pm
BYLINE: Matiullah Abid Noor, Shahnaz Nafees
CONTRIBUTOR: Roshan Noorzai
DATELINE: Washington, D.C.
VIDEOGRAPHER: Matiullah Abid Noor
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Kenochs; Reifenrath
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original | VOA Afghan Service
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:12
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE:
EDITOR NOTES:))
((Video Link: for Brolls: https://app.frame.io/projects/49cddc1f-5a7f-443c-ac76-d62ffa0b33f8/5fee47a2-ea79-4893-8ed8-33d90cf8e183
https://app.frame.io/projects/49cddc1f-5a7f-443c-ac76-d62ffa0b33f8/65d803fe-74a7-41d9-bbf4-c88e8c0a0b02))
((INTRO))
[[Some Afghan Americans who live in northern Virginia are determined to vote in the midterm elections, saying that U.S. foreign policy toward Afghanistan and immigration are most important to them. Matiullah Abid Noor and Shahnaz Nafees have the story.]]
((VIDEO: People entering the building – Dar Al-Noor Islamic Center))
((NARRATOR))
Members of the Afghan American community in northern Virginia who can vote say in Tuesday's midterm elections, they plan to cast their ballots for candidates who will address the human rights situation and humanitarian crisis brought on by the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021.
https://app.frame.io/player/1a097847-a666-431d-b3ca-f0e68ca1e56b
((Alaha Ahrar, Afghan American)) ((Female, Dari))) (Video: 00:21 – 00:36))
“We should vote for those who have goodwill toward Afghanistan and those who want to help Afghanistan and Afghans. We should try to identify and find those candidates and vote for them.”
((NARRATOR))
For many American voters, hot national topics such as the economy and abortion rights are driving them to the voting booth. Foreign policy issues seldom play a large role in midterm elections.
https://app.frame.io/player/165c3034-af55-4ace-ba59-a5ea30032139
((Scott Anderson, Brookings Institution (Male, English))) ((Courtesy: Skype)) (Video: 04:25 – 04:41)) “Overall, midterm elections — particularly these midterm elections — tend to be much more domestic-oriented discussions. They have foreign policy consequences, that’s absolutely true, but tends not to be the thing that is seen as driving voters or that candidate's campaign.”
((NARRATOR))
Many Afghan Americans are also concerned about the fate of those Afghans evacuated to the U.S. after the fall of Kabul, refugees who can’t cast ballots in this week’s midterm elections.
They want Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, or Triple-A bill, which supporters say would give them the stability and security they need to rebuild their lives in the U.S.
https://app.frame.io/player/77e976a8-dc8c-4c0c-bd83-31f5ad42d066
((Mirwais Safi, US Resident)) (Male, Pashto))) (Video: 01:29 – 01:45)
“I am sure that they have heard about those who gathered in front of the Congress. They should pass the Triple-A bill so that [recently arrived] Afghans facing uncertainty get documents and their problems are addressed. It is because they face many problems.”
((NARRATOR))
The Afghan Adjustment Act, a bipartisan legislation, was introduced in both chambers of Congress in August.
The act, if passed, would establish a path to U.S. citizenship for Afghans whose immigration status will be uncertain when their temporary humanitarian parole expires.
https://app.frame.io/player/6e406385-75b9-4ec9-95cc-0c3464eae424
((Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat)) ((Female, English)) (Video: 00:03 -- 00:28))
“One of the things that I would hope we can do in the United States is to ensure that those Afghans who have come to this country as part of the evacuation and who are continuing to come because of their work with Americans are able to resettle here in this country if they aren’t able to go back to their country.”
((NARRATOR))
Over 80,000 Afghans have arrived in the U.S. since the fall of Afghanistan. Most have been granted parole for two years, according to the Department of Homeland Security, but if the Triple A Bill does not pass, their long-term future is uncertain.
[[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-evacuees-us-asylum-system-congressional-inaction/]]
((Shahnaz Nafees – VOANEWS – Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
in Washington, D.C.
Embargo DateNovember 7, 2022 22:21 EST
Byline
Shahnaz Nafees – VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
