San Diego City Wire

WASHINGTON D.C.– On July 14, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) helped introduce the Afghan Adjustment Act, led by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-1), as an original cosponsor. This bipartisan, bicameral bill establishes a legal adjustment process for tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees currently in the United States who have been relocated from Afghanistan and resettled into local American communities since the U.S. withdrawal from the country in August 2021, including those who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan over the past 20 years. After completing additional vetting required during the application process, this adjustment of status would provide eligible Afghans in need of protection with stability as they continue to rebuild their lives in the United States. 

“Relocating our Afghan allies to safety is only the first part of our commitment to these brave men and women,” said Rep. Scott Peters. “Now, we have an obligation to provide our Afghan partners stability through temporary humanitarian status and access to other critical resources. The bipartisan support for the Afghan Adjustment Act proves we are united in our conviction to support vulnerable Afghans who are starting a new life in the U.S.” 

Currently, Afghans who were admitted to the United States under temporary humanitarian parole can only pursue permanent legal status through the asylum system or, for those who are eligible, the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. Both options face severe backlogs, long processing times, and logistical obstacles for these Afghans who were brought to the United States under emergency circumstances. Congress has passed similar adjustment legislation in the wake of other wartime evacuations and humanitarian crises, including the Vietnam War. 

Specifically, the Afghan Adjustment Act would: 

• Allow Afghans on temporary humanitarian status in the U.S. who submit to additional security vetting to apply for permanent legal status. 
• Establish an Interagency Task Force, led by the U.S. Department of State, responsible for creating and implementing a strategy to continue the relocation and resettlement of eligible Afghan partners from Afghanistan over the next ten years.  
• Require the U.S. Department of State to respond to congressional inquiries related to SIV applications or U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) referrals.
• Expand SIV eligibility for Afghans who worked and served alongside U.S. forces, including members of the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command, the Afghan Air Force, the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan, and the Special Mission Wing of Afghanistan.

Original source can be found here.