Take action: Ask Congress to provide permanent legal residency for Afghan evacuees.
Since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, around 80,000 at-risk Afghans have been relocated to the United States. This has been one of the largest resettlement endeavors in U.S. history.
Many of the Afghans were granted humanitarian parole, which is typically granted for only one or two years. Given the nature of the situation in Afghanistan, and the deepening humanitarian crisis under Taliban rule, these families will likely need protection for much longer and, without a solution from Congress, will need to navigate complex legal issues to find permanent legal protection. We can call on Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act that will ensure that resettled Afghan families can remain together in safety in the United States.
DHS reports that 36,000 Afghan humanitarian parolees in the U.S. currently lack a clear avenue to lawful permanent residency – many of whom are Afghan women’s rights advocates, former reporters, and extended family members of Afghan U.S. military-affiliated interpreters.
Guided by our faith, we believe that immigration policies must prioritize family unity and honor the God-given dignity of each person.
Ask Congress to support an Afghan Adjustment Act to protect our at-risk Afghan neighbors today.
You can read more about the Afghan evacuees and the need for an Afghan Adjustment Act through this backgrounder from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.