On the eve of the six-month anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, a coalition of military veterans and Afghan friends urged Congress to act immediately to help refugees by approving the Afghan Adjustment Act. The gathering, organized by the Evacuate Our Allies alliance, gathered on Capitol Hill to urge the Biden administration to guarantee those Afghans under Taliban threat in the nation be evacuated as quickly as possible. Veterans underlined their common service and sacrifice throughout America’s longest conflict, while refugee advocates emphasized the significance of long-term safety and stability in successful resettlement.
“Tens of thousands of evacuees are youngsters full of optimism, some of them with siblings born on American soil,” said Nadia Hashimi, an Afghan-American doctor, author, and Afghan-American Foundation board member. “Having lost their nation and homes, we must guarantee that these youngsters embark into their new lives with a sense of stability and welcome beneath their feet.”
“Women played an important part in the campaign for equality in Afghanistan.” We were forced to escape due to our employment, and like many Afghans, we have been through hell in the previous few months. “The only road to safety and a future is through AAA,” said Helal Massomi, an Afghan Women’s Rights Advocate and Evacuee. “Legal avenues such as the Special Immigrant Visa program assist Afghans who have directly collaborated with the US government.” However, Afghans who battled for the same principles, particularly women’s rights campaigners, are not eligible. For us, the AAA represents a significant step in fulfilling the US government’s vow to defend its partners, particularly human rights allies.”
“I served with US soldiers in Afghanistan and came to the US in 2017 on a Special Immigrant Visa.” “They nickname me Lucky because I’ve been blown up twice and I still have all my fingers and toes,” explained “Lucky,” an Afghan interpreter and Special Immigrant Visa holder. “I’m here today to petition Congress for assistance.” We need to implement an Afghan Adjustment Act so that my new friends and neighbors may experience the American dream that I am experiencing today.”
“These Afghans believed in us, fought alongside us, bled with us, and sometimes died for us,” said Mike Jason, AlliedAirlift21’s Veteran and Executive Director. “The Afghan Adjustment Act is about ensuring that our friends and allies who have made so many sacrifices have an opportunity to resume their lives with confidence, dignity, and respect.”
“The United States made a guarantee of protection to United States-affiliated and at-risk Afghans – that pledge cannot expire,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. “It is the responsibility of Congress to give long-term stability to the tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees who do not have a straight road to permanent residency.” Anything less would indicate an incomplete task and an unmet promise.”
As a result of the United States’ rapid evacuation, the great majority of Afghan refugees were granted humanitarian parole and allowed to enter the country. This precarious, temporary status does not provide a straightforward path to becoming a lawful permanent residence.
The Afghan Adjustment Act would give Afghans who arrived in the United States on humanitarian parole and were evacuated from Afghanistan the chance to petition to become lawful permanent residents with a path to permanent status after one year in the country. This is essential for our new neighbors’ absorption into their new towns and strengthens our communities.