B Stands for Boost

Good afternoon,

According to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released last month, 72% of Americans are in favor of resettling Afghans who worked with the U.S. or Afghan governments during the war. Resettling these Afghan evacuees has widespread bipartisan support - over three-quarters of both Democrats and Republicans polled in favor of accepting evacuees.

This support is needed as Afghan refugees and service agencies face challenges during the resettlement process. In addition to learning a new language and culture, evacuees must live with the trauma of fleeing a war-torn country and the fear of what will happen to family and friends still in Afghanistan. This resettlement process is especially hard on children.

Over 40% of Afghan refugees arriving at U.S. military bases have been children, including hundreds of unaccompanied children. Many of these children have been reunited with family members who they were separated from during the chaotic evacuation process. But others are staying in shelters until they can be placed with family or a sponsor. Given little notice of arrivals and still reeling from the impact of the pandemic and years of diminished resettlement infrastructure, shelters are struggling to provide the necessary care for these children. A concerning report from ProPublica found that some children in a Chicago shelter have self-harmed, caused disturbances in the shelter, and several have even required psychiatric hospitalization. Staff at similar facilities across the country are overwhelmed doing their best to address these serious issues.

On top of these concerns, there is also uncertainty regarding evacuees’ status in the U.S. Thousands are still on military bases, awaiting permanent resettlement, and many of these Afghans have been given parolee status – which only grants temporary permission to enter and remain in the country for two years.  It is imperative that the U.S. continues to support our Afghan allies, their families, and those who remain at risk of the Taliban. If Congress passes an Afghan Adjustment Act, Afghan parolees would have an opportunity to seek lawful permanent resident status in the U.S. Without it, these individuals face potentially being forced to return to Afghanistan, waiting years for asylum, removal proceedings, and even deportation. 

Members of the Council on National Security and Immigration wrote to state governors and held a press call, underscoring the thoroughness of the Afghan vetting process. Far from being a security risk, "welcoming Afghan evacuees to the U.S. is a way for us to champion ideals of democracy and freedom and to demonstrate that we will always stand by the allies who are critical to our military and diplomatic efforts."

Join us in urging Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act as soon as possible.

Stay healthy and hopeful,

Adam

Adam Estle
Vice President of Field and Constituencies
National Immigration Forum 

NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:

POLITICO: Dems aim to squeeze immigration into social spending bill — without path to citizenship

CBS NEWS: Division among Biden appointees led U.S. to embrace Trump-era border policies

BAPTIST NEWS GLOBAL: Afghan refugees are being screened safely, security experts assure governors

THE HILL: Recapturing green cards: Immigration is America's advantage over China