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U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga's office receiving calls to assist constituents trapped in Afghanistan

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U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, (R-Zeeland, MI-2)
U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga says his office has been busy opening cases to rescue West Michiganders – and others - from Afghanistan.

“We’ve had dozens of contacts from citizens, from Green Card holders, from people who are S.I.V.’s, those Special Immigrant Visa holders who are here currently.”

In an emotional moment of Facebook Live, the Zeeland Republican described the case of a West Michigan interpreter whose fiancé had all of her paperwork, including her passport and Visa, in the hands of U.S. officials. When the U.S. abandoned the embassy in Kabul, personnel were ordered to destroy all documents.

“She has no way of getting out of the country despite having two emails from the State Department saying, ‘Please, come to the airport we will get you out.’ She twice has been beaten and turned away by the Taliban and can’t get out.”

Representative Huizenga says the U.S. has a moral obligation to evacuate all Americans and Afghan allies. He suggests deploying additional troops and extending the self-imposed August 31st deadline.

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Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.