Jesuit Refugee Service/USA (JRS/USA) applauds introduction of the Afghan Adjustment Act, which will positively impact the lives of tens of thousands of Afghans who arrived in the United States after the U.S. military withdrawal in 2021. This bill will ensure that Afghans evacuated to the U.S. have access to the same legal status they would have received had they been admitted as refugees.

“Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan one year ago, Afghans around the world continue to struggle to find safety and security,” said Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Director at JRS/USA. “The U.S. must do everything in its power to ensure that Afghans who arrived in the U.S. do not live in fear of being returned to Afghanistan, but instead can rebuild their lives in peace.

“I’ve met Afghan families here in the U.S.,” Rosenhauer added. “They are working extraordinarily hard to find decent housing, to secure and perform effectively at jobs, and for children, to succeed in school while studying English. They will contribute significantly to their communities in the U.S. and should be given permanent status.”

Over the past year, the U.S. has welcomed over 75,000 at-risk Afghans via a temporary immigration status known as humanitarian parole. The Afghan Adjustment Act will remedy this legal uncertainty by allowing Afghans to apply for lawful permanent resident status, avoid years of needless asylum processing, and save precious government resources.

“We thank Senators Klobuchar, Graham, Coons, Murkowski, Blumenthal, and Blunt, and Representatives Blumenauer, Meijer, Nadler, Kinzinger, Lofgren, Miller-Meeks, Crow, Upton, and Peters for their leadership in introducing the Afghan Adjustment Act and look forward to working with Congress to pass this important piece of bipartisan legislation,” said Giulia McPherson, Director of Advocacy & Operations at JRS/USA. “With the support of Americans across the U.S., including advocates who have called for introduction of this legislation over the past several months, we look forward to doing our part to welcome our Afghan brothers and sisters.”

Join us today and take action in encouraging the passage of this bill.