Afghan girls allowed entry into US for 10 days

KABUL (Pajhwok): President Donald Trump has asked national security officials to grant Afghan girls visas to enable them to take part in a US robotics contest, a media report says.

Trump intervened after six female Afghan students, seeking to compete in the Global Challenge, were twice denied visas. They are seeking to compete in the Global Challenge.

Ahead of the event penciled in for July 16-18 in Washington, the president studied the case in terms of his administration’s Afghan policy review and women’s entrepreneurship initiative.

According to the Politico, the Department of Homeland Security allowed the students entry under a parole system, which would let them stay in the US for 10 days.

Dina Powell, Trump's deputy national security adviser, said in a statement: “The State Department worked incredibly well with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that this case was reviewed and handled appropriately.

“We could not be prouder of this delegation of young women who are also scientists -- they represent the best of the Afghan people and embody the promise that their aspirations can be fulfilled. They are future leaders of Afghanistan and strong ambassadors for their country.”

When he came to learn of visa denials, the president urged National Security Council officials to help the group enter the US. The officials subsequently talked to representatives of various agencies.

The Department of Homeland Security agreed to let the girls in. The parole authority is used under exceptional circumstances. “In this case, it was determined there was a significant public benefit to letting the girls in.”

In a tweet Wednesday, the president’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, said she looked forward to meeting “this brilliant team of Afghan girls.”

The rejection of the girls’ visas came in for denunciation from critics, who said the females had already struggled to overcome obstacles in Afghanistan.

PAN Monitor/mud