Bacon Responds to Final Message from State Dept. to Americans in Afghanistan

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) issued the following statement about  a State Department “last call” notice for American citizens in Afghanistan, received by a constituent and shared with Bacon’s office:

“Our administration is leaving potentially thousands of citizens to be held hostage, trapped and even murdered in less than six days. Their “Final Message’ as they call it, for American citizens to be at a certain location by midnight tonight with their spouse and children under 21 is more like a ‘last call for their lives.’ We have heard from many citizens that they are not able to travel the streets of Kabul to get to the secure location listed in the memo. How are we going to guarantee their safety? 

“This has been a colossal failure of epic proportions brought on by the Administration. The President was warned by Dept. of Defense leaders and others that the Taliban would quickly act. Why did they wait until the last minute to make plans to get our citizens out? He should have ordered the State Department to quickly start processing SIV’s earlier this year. Plans should have been made to get our citizens and those with passports, safely out of the country. The Administration based their strategy on hopes, but hope is not a strategy. 

“My heart aches for those who are wondering if they will get out in time to save the lives of their spouse and children. My heart aches for those who faithfully worked with our troops during the war, with the promise of a better life in America. My heart aches for those in America waiting to hear about the status of their families…wondering if they are able to escape the Taliban.

“The Administration must be held accountable for this travesty.”

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**Email, date, time, and location have been redacted for security purposes.

 From: (Email redacted)

Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2021 11:45 AM
To: (Email redacted)
Subject: 8/25 Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens from U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan

U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan

AMERICAN CITIZENS ONLY

THIS IS THE FINAL MESSAGE FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO WISH TO DEPART KABUL.  American citizens who choose to remain in Afghanistan should be prepared to arrange their own departure without assistance from the U.S. government.

Please go to the (located redacted) (date redacted) at (time redcated) with your HUSBAND OR WIFE and CHILDREN UNDER 21 only.  DO NOT GO TO THE AIRPORT CIRCLE GATE (SOUTH POINT GATE).  YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.

Please provide photo identification for travelers, each family must have one U.S. citizen family member with a U.S. passport in their possession. Please bring small bags only (no large suitcases). You will be transported to the Hamid Karzai International Airport for an evacuation flight.

If you need emergency assistance, please contact the CALL CENTER at (phone number redacted) email is not transferable, do not share or forward this email.