Dear President Biden, Secretary Mayorkas, and Secretary Blinken,

As we watch democracy collapse in Afghanistan, we urge you to take bold, decisive actions in support of the Afghan people.
Just like we've taken bold, decisive action on crime and Antifa. We're in favor of both.
First, you must prioritize the most vulnerable Afghanis seeking visas, or refugee or asylum status. This includes, but is not limited to, minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ people, non-Muslim believers, those involved in the previous government, believers of other branches of Islam, and those who previously opposed the Taliban. The Taliban’s archaic, abhorrent, life-threatening treatment of women is also well-documented, and its ascendancy will likely destroy twenty years of expanding women’s rights in Afghanistan.
Rough count, that's about ten million people.
These decisions belong to you as leaders of the federal government, but we recognize that you cannot admit more Afghanis without American communities willing to resettle them. Our community is willing.
Immigrants and refugees have made our region and our state better and it would be our honor to welcome Afghanis who are no longer safe in their home country. Please know that you can count on us to provide welcoming new communities to as many Afghanis as we can.
Thank you for your consideration.

Best,

Portland City Council

Mayor Ted Wheeler

Commissioner Carmen Rubio

Commissioner Dan Ryan

Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty

Commissioner Mingus Mapps

Multnomah County Commission

Deborah Kafoury

Multnomah County Chair

Sharon Meieran

District 1 Commissioner

Susheela Jayapal

District 2 Commissioner

Jessica Vega Pederson

District 3 Commissioner

Lori Stegmann

District 4 Commissioner