John,  

Today marks one year since Kabul fell to Taliban rule, marking an end to the twenty years of U.S. military presence in Afghanistan – and the start of an evacuee and refugee crisis that still has not seen a resolution.  

In the past year, the U.S. military has evacuated over 124,000 people from Afghanistan – including tens of thousands of Afghan allies, refugees, parolees, and their families.  

Communities across the U.S. continue to welcome Afghan evacuees with open arms – hosting meet and greet events, organizing countless volunteer programs and fundraisers, offering welcome meals, and coming up with creative solutions to get them the assistance and supplies they need.

Afghan evacuees deserve stability – urge Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act.  

Three hundred and sixty-five days later, these evacuees are trying to build new lives in America – sending their children to new schools, adapting to new places, getting to know their new neighbors – but they still face uncertainty. Many have been given parolee status – which only grants temporary permission to enter and remain in the U.S. for two years – or are eligible for Temporary Protected Status, which also only grants temporary protection.  

Last week, the U.S. House and Senate both introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act – an urgently needed piece of legislation that would give tens of thousands of Afghan allies in the U.S. a clear pathway to permanent residence, demonstrating that significant progress is being made to provide Afghan allies, evacuees, and their families permanency and stability.  

Tell Congress to swiftly pass the Afghan Adjustment Act.  

These parolees are fleeing violence and persecution and deserve an opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety and stability – without the fears, limitations, and uncertainty associated with temporary  immigration status. Living each day with the stress and uncertainty of your legal status does not provide the stability and wellness necessary to fully integrate into a new society and culture.  Take action and tell your members of Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment act now. 

With an asylum and Special Immigrant Visa backlog that can stretch for years, and options limited for those who may not qualify, Congress must act to resolve the long-term status of Afghan evacuees and provide them a pathway to lawful permanent residence. Without it, they face potentially having to return to Afghanistan, waiting years for asylum, removal proceedings, and even deportation.  

Congress must immediately pass the Afghan Adjustment Act and allow Afghan parolees the opportunity to seek lawful permanent resident status.  

Send a message right now and urge your members of Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act.  

Thank you for all you do for Afghan evacuees,  

Dan Kosten  

Assistant Vice President of Policy & Advocacy 

National Immigration Forum