The United States is expanding efforts to permit Afghan citizens who have worked with the U.S. to resettle as refugees in America.The U.S. State Department announced Monday it was widening a refugee program.The move is expected to offer permanent U.S. refugee status to "many thousands of Afghans and their immediate family members."The State Department said "the U.S. objective remains a peaceful, secure Afghanistan."However, it added that the refugee program was being expanded "in light of increased levels of Taliban violence" in the country.The expansion aims to help Afghans who might be targeted by Taliban militants because of their work with U.S.-based organizations during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.The announcement came as Taliban violence has increased ahead of a planned withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the country by the end of this month.
