Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is deeply disappointed in the omission of the Afghan Adjustment Act from the FY23 omnibus appropriations package released today by the U.S. Senate and urges Congress to include this critical piece of legislation as an amendment during final deliberations. 

After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, tens of thousands of Afghans fled for their lives and continue to struggle to find safety and security. The U.S. welcomed over 75,000 at-risk Afghans via humanitarian parole, and they are rebuilding their lives with the support of Americans across the U.S. Yet, many find themselves under a cloud of legal uncertainty that can be remedied with passage of an Afghan Adjustment Act.  

“This legislation would allow Afghans paroled into the U.S. to apply for lawful permanent resident status, the same legal status they would have received had they been admitted as refugees,” said Giulia McPherson, Director of Advocacy. “We urge Senator Schumer to take action today by including the Afghan Adjustment Act in the FY23 omnibus appropriations package. This will ensure that our Afghan brothers and sisters are protected and have a pathway to permanent legal status.”