Miller-Meeks, Blumenauer, Klobuchar and Graham, Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Allow Afghans Allies in the United States to Apply for Permanent Legal Status

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), reintroduced the Afghan Adjustment Act, bipartisan legislation to allow Afghans—including those who supported U.S. military efforts— who sought refuge in the United States to apply for permanent legal residency after undergoing additional vetting. Currently, Afghans who were admitted on temporary humanitarian status can only gain permanent legal status through the asylum system or Special Immigrant Visa process (SIV), which face severe backlogs and long processing times. Allowing Afghan allies to apply for permanent legal residency will help provide certainty as they build their lives in the United States. 

“Tens of thousands of Afghan allies jeopardized their lives and the lives of their families to help our country. They served as interpreters and guides that was vital to our mission and in return, we promised to protect them. To be a friend should not be fatal,” said Blumenauer. “The Taliban is back in control of Afghanistan, and they have long memories. The Afghan Adjustment Act is more critical than ever to provide a pathway to legal permanent status to protect our allies and for our country—these are people with real talents that can continue to help us.”

“As a Veteran I feel it is our responsibility to honor our commitments and to never forget our Afghan allies who put their lives on the line for Americans,” said Miller-Meeks. “The Afghan Adjustment Act protects our Afghan allies and alleviates the logistical obstacles that our allies face when working toward a lawful pathway to permanent resident status.”

“Giving our Afghan allies a chance to apply for legal status is the right and necessary thing to do,” said Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will help provide Afghans who have sacrificed so much for our country with the legal certainty they deserve as they rebuild their lives. I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this bipartisan legislation and provide Afghans who sought refuge in the U.S. with the opportunity for a stable future in their new home.” 

“It is imperative that America assist those Afghans who supported our country and that fled the oppressive regime of the Taliban. We must let the world know that we do not abandon those who aid America.  This bill works toward that goal while ensuring strong vetting to protect America’s own security,” said Graham.

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The Afghan Adjustment Act would also improve and expand the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process, including by broadening SIV eligibility to include groups that worked alongside American forces such as the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command and the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan. 

Modeled after bipartisan bills that Congress has passed in the wake of other humanitarian crises and the Vietnam War, the Afghan Adjustment Act would: 

• Allow Afghans on humanitarian status who submit to additional vetting–including an in-person interview–to apply for permanent legal status. For these Afghans, the primary options under current law to gain permanent status are through our asylum system or the burdensome SIV process;
  
  
• Expand the SIV program to include previously omitted groups, including the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command, the Afghan Air Force, and the Special Mission Wing of Afghanistan;
  
  
• Establish a task force to develop and implement a strategy for supporting Afghans outside of the United States who are eligible for SIV status and require the Department of State to respond to congressional inquiries about SIV applications.

The legislation is lead by Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) in the Senate.

For a one-page fact sheet and list of endorsees, please click here. For full bill text, please click here.