Last year, a bi-partisan bill that has the potential to secure the futures of tens of thousands of Afghan refugees in the U.S. was blocked in Congress. The Afghan Adjustment Act, introduced in August 2022, is designed to create a streamlined path to citizenship for over 75 thousand Afghans who were evacuated to the U.S. after the Taliban takeover in 2021. If passed, this act would provide eligible Afghan refugees lawful permanent resident status. The bill was blocked in congress after key Republican representatives voiced concerns over security vetting processes.
Most Afghan evacuees are currently in the U.S. on humanitarian parole, which allows them to remain in the country for two years. For many, this temporary parolee status will expire in 2023. Without measures such as the Afghan Adjustment Act, they will lose access to essential benefits, including employment, health care, and the legal right to reside in the U.S.
Congress must approve the Afghan Adjustment Act by August 2023 to pave a pathway for these thousands of refugees to remain in the U.S. Despite being blocked, the bill has bi-partisan support and backing by numerous former U.S. generals, ambassadors, and veterans; many believe it is reasonable to hope that it may yet pass.
You can help our new neighbors find a secure future in the U.S. by telling your legislators to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. Read more about the Afghan refugee crisis, refugee resettlement in Wisconsin, and what you can do to help here.