As the temporary parole status granted for Afghan refugees nears its end, advocates say passing the Afghan Adjustment Act is more important than ever.
by Alexandra Martinez, Prism
It’s been over a year since U.S. forces abruptly left Afghanistan, leaving the Taliban in control of the country and forcing tens of thousands of Afghans to evacuate for their safety. Since the takeover in Aug. 2021, over 82,000 Afghan refugees have arrived in the U.S., seeking a pathway to citizenship and stability. While all Afghan refugees have been granted humanitarian parole for two years—a temporary status that authorizes refugees to remain in the country for a temporary period of time—the parole does not provide a pathway to permanent lawful status. Afghan refugees and activists have been calling for an Afghan Adjustment Act for over a year, but Republican lawmakers have gutted every attempt to pass the policy over what they say are security concerns. With only one year left before their parolee status expires, Afghan refugees say it is more important than ever to ensure this legislation gets passed.

“An Afghan Adjustment Act would be a clear and quicker pathway to get our green card, and it will help a lot of Afghans directly,” said Zahra Ahmadi, who arrived from Afghanistan in Sept. 2021 and works as an employment specialist for the International Institute of New England. “If it’s not passed, I think it will make it very complicated and very difficult for Afghans because they would have to go through an expensive and very complicated process to get citizenship.”
If the Afghan Adjustment Act does not get passed, at least 36,000 refugees will be forced to enter the already backlogged asylum processing system, where there are currently 470,000 pending cases. The process can take years before a determination is made, which is economically burdensome for refugees who cannot afford an immigration attorney. In the interim, though refugees have been granted temporary work authorization, many remain with legal uncertainty hanging over their heads and a fear of returning to their homeland.
Recent Posts
‘Unconstitutional. Unethical. Authoritarian.’ ICE Bars Millions Of Immigrants From Bond Hearings
July 18, 2025
Take Action Now One watchdog said the new policy “seems like a blatant attempt to stop them from exercising their right to due process.”……
Americans Are Not Nearly Alarmed Enough About Climate Change
July 18, 2025
Take Action Now Americans still don’t comprehend how imminent, dangerous, and far-reaching the threat is—and journalists are partly to blame.By…
The IRS Is Building A Vast System To Share Millions Of Taxpayers’ Data With ICE
July 17, 2025
Take Action Now ProPublica has obtained the blueprint for the Trump administration’s unprecedented plan to turn over IRS records to Homeland Security…
Israel’s Sudden Assault On Syria Is Unchecked Aggression
July 17, 2025
Take Action Now Jerusalem is bombing Damascus and threatening al-Sharaa’s rule, while Washington was hoping to help the nascent government on…