What was 'Operation Allies Welcome,' which allowed some Afghans entry into the U.S.?

"When Kabul fell to the Taliban in August 2021 there were chaotic scenes as thousands of Afghans rushed to the airport desperate to escape. The world watched in horror as some among them were crushed to death in the crowds trying to flee. The U.S. exit from Afghanistan happened during former President Joe Biden's term, but it was set in motion by the first Trump administration, which signed a deal with the Taliban in 2020 to withdraw after two decades in the country."

"On announcing the end of the war on Aug. 31, 2021, Biden hailed the U.S. evacuation of Afghans as unprecedented and vowed to continue to assist those under threat. "As for the Afghans, we and our partners have airlifted 100,000 of them," he said in an address. "We will continue to work to help more people leave the country who are at risk. And we're far from done.""

Kabul's fall in August 2021 triggered chaotic evacuations as thousands of Afghans rushed to flee, with some crushed to death in the crowds. The U.S. withdrawal followed a 2020 deal between the Trump administration and the Taliban and culminated during President Joe Biden's term. The U.S. airlifted tens of thousands of Afghans and established a federal effort to support vulnerable evacuees. Operation Allies Welcome allowed Afghans—particularly those at risk for collaborating with allied forces—to enter the United States on two-year parole without permanent status, with expectations to pursue asylum or other legal pathways to remain.

Read at www.npr.org