Protecting Afghan Allies: One Year Later

Protecting Afghan Allies: One Year Later

• There is precedent–Congress passed similar status adjustments during other critical evacuations & humanitarian moments, including during the Vietnam War and in the Cuban Adjustment Act. Join faith partners HERE to urge passage now!
• It supports both evacuated Afghans & those still needing escape–Nearly all Afghans arriving via humanitarian parole (“HP”) meet the legal definition of a refugee and–had they been allowed to be admitted through US Refugee Program–they would have been eligible to adjust to LPR status after one year. The AAA will allow status adjustment for evacuated Afghans previously with HP, & will cover at-risk Afghans paroled into the US until July 1, 2025. See Factsheet HERE.
• It is Bi-Partisan, Bi-Cameral–Both parties, in the House and Senate, have introduced the bill, grateful for both the additional vetting and national security protections and streamlined Afghan protections it offers. See HERE and HERE.
• It is Strongly Supported by Veterans–Multiple veterans groups, like Veterans for American Ideals, fought with Afghans in the 20 year US campaign in Afghanistan, and say: “The AAA offers an important correction by allowing Afghan evacuees to apply to become lawful permanent residents, the same permanent status they would have received had they been admitted as through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Take action with them HERE.
• It is essential to avoid chaos and expense–Under humanitarian parole guidelines through which most Afghans entered the U.S. last year, they can only pursue permanent legal status through the asylum system or, for those who are eligible, the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. Both options face long processing times, expensive and logistical obstacles, and backlogs of 400,000+ asylum cases. Learn more HERE.