Support Afghan Allies

Back in August 2021, over 82,000 Afghans were evacuated to the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome. Most of these individuals and their families were brought into the United States on "humanitarian parole," which is a temporary status that does not include provisions for permanent citizenship. These individuals, many of whom served with us, furthering U.S. interests and saving lives abroad, are now in indefinite limbo. There are two main options to stay permanently: apply for asylum or try for a Special Immigration Visa (SIV). Both systems are slow and complicated, especially since they were hastily evacuated.

Additionally, as of July 2025, Afghans who had Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are losing their work authorization allowance and could now face deportation due to this program ending. Here are two proposed bills that we continue to follow and actively support that would aid our Afghan allies.

1. The Enduring Welcome Act

This bill proposes the establishment of a permanent office within the State Department to oversee Afghan relocation efforts. Its primary objectives include resolving issues related to family reunification, ensuring regular reporting to Congress, and upholding commitments to Afghan allies, U.S. service members, and veterans.


2. The Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA)

The Afghan Adjustment Act is designed to establish a definitive path to permanent residency for Afghans who were evacuated to the United States. This new legislation would encompass virtually all Afghans admitted via humanitarian parole, allowing them to be classified as refugees or eligible for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) as if they had undergone the standard admission process, thereby qualifying them for lawful permanent resident status. It incorporates enhanced reporting and vetting stipulations, building upon previous iterations of the AAA introduced in 2022 and 2023.

The Bill’s three focuses:

  1. Offer a Path to Residency: Afghans who arrived on humanitarian parole on or after July 30, 2021, would get a conditional pathway to permanent residency, which means much-needed stability.

  2. Improve Processing: An Interagency Task Force would be established within the U.S. Department of State to develop strategies for facilitating resettlement strategies and future emergency plans, plus dedicated offices for visas and consular services.

  3. Expand Who's Eligible: It extends the main Afghan SIV program through December 31, 2029. It waives the one-year service requirement for SIV people injured working for the U.S. and for families of those killed while working for the U.S. Also, it creates a new SIV category for parents and siblings of U.S. armed forces members/veterans, with limits (2,500 per year, 10,000 total) and makes certain SIV-adjacent allies (like Afghan Special Operations, Air Force, and female military members) who face danger eligible for priority refugee status. 

We encourage you to continue to use your voice by calling and e-mailing your elected officials on behalf of this population of immigrants, as we know so many of our military families credit these individuals with saving their lives during our country’s decades-long missions in the Middle East. 

For more ongoing and detailed information about Afghan vetting processes, specific policy updates, and challenges, follow along at Afghan Evac.