FIGHTING TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE THAT SERVED THE U.S.
On August 31th, 2021, US Military Forces departed Afghanistan. Since then, Taliban have escalated their systematic execution of all those who worked with US Forces, starting with our translators. We need your help to help save the estimated 360,000+ SIV applicants who are still awaiting Special Immigrant Visas for their service. These loyal and trustworthy Afghans served with U.S. combat veterans and need our help now more than ever. Click below to learn how you can help.
Reach out to your members of Congress and support the Afghan Adjustment Act
SUPPORT THE AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT
PROBLEM: For the tens of thousands of Afghans who have or will soon be arriving in the U.S. with humanitarian parole, safety will only be temporary.
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Unlike refugee status or Special Immigrant Visas, humanitarian parole only temporarily allows people fleeing violence to remain in the U.S. this means they'll have to find another pathway to safety once their parole expires.
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In all likelihood, that will mean tens of thousands of new asylum claims - a paperwork-intensive process with years-long backlogs that have prevented thousands of others from finding safety in the U.S. and strains government resources.
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Afghans were advised to destroy documents outlining their U.S. affiliation during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan to protect themselves from the Taliban. They will need that very documentation to prove their asylum claim.
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There are not enough practicing lawyers in the U.S. - let alone those trained in asylum law - to represent Afghans arriving in the U.S..
SOLUTION: Congress must pass the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA), which would allow Afghan parolees to seek legal permanent residence in the U.S..
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COMPASSION: After a harrowing and life-threatening experience saving themselves and their families from violence, Afghans deserve an opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety - without the fear and limitations of uncertain immigration status and without the trauma of attempting to navigate an immigration system that is not adequately prepared for their arrival.
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FAIRNESS: The AAA will put our new Afghan neighbors on the same legal footing they would have enjoyed had they been admitted through the U.S. resettlement program or SIV program, rather than through the chaotic and dangerous Kabul evacuation.
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DUTY: Following the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, we have a profound moral obligation to assist with the resettlement of Afghan refugees.
HONOR: "Leave no one behind" doesn't end at evacuation. To fully honor our commitments to our allies and other at-risk afghans, we must ensure continuing pathways to safety so they can rebuild their lives in safety in the U.S..
LEARN ABOUT PAST U.S. WARTIME ALLY EVACUATIONS
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Vietnam - Operation New Life
In 1975, with the North Vietnamese in quick pursuit, US Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen helped save 130,000 Vietnamese Refugees. The Ford administration supported the immigration of these Wartime allies on Guam, later bringing them to the continental US. We can't afford to wait until the last moment. We must act now.
Kosovo - Operation Provide Refuge
In 1999, after Serbian forces attacked Pristina (Kosovo), the U.S. airlifted around 20,000 Kosovar Albanians to Fort Dix, NJ, where their eligibility for refugee status was determined. It was hailed as a new Ellis Island for Kosovo Refugees.
August 2021 Afghan Evacuation
The week of July 25th, 2021, saw the first evacuees from Afghanistan to U.S. soil. While this is a huge victory, current projections show only 3,000 of the 70,000+ will be evacuated. WE NEED TO DO MORE
NOTE: This AWA prediction proved to be accurate.
Our Future
At some point in the future, we will send our military to another country. Regardless of advanced technology, we will need Wartime allies. Our actions today will send a message to those future allies that we stand by those that risk their lives for us. Interpreters are our cultural and linguistic guides.
"Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does."