Biden administration designates TPS for Afghanistan

The Biden administration introduced Wednesday new immigration protections for people from Afghanistan, together with the 76,000 Afghan refugees who’ve come to the USA since final summer time’s chaotic navy withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The Division of Homeland Safety will grant short-term protected standing to sure Afghans for 18 months. To qualify, people should have lived in the USA since March 15.

“This TPS designation will assist to guard Afghan nationals who’ve already been dwelling in the USA from returning to unsafe circumstances,” Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas mentioned in an announcement. “Underneath this designation, TPS may even present further protections and assurances to trusted companions and weak Afghans who supported the U.S. navy, diplomatic, and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan during the last 20 years.”

Some lawmakers and immigration advocates have been lobbying the administration to grant Afghans the protected standing for months. Lots of the Afghans who got here following the U.S. pullout of Afghanistan got here on humanitarian parole, which solely affords short-term safety and work authorization for as much as two years. 

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Though TPS will supply safety from deportation, it doesn’t supply a pathway to citizenship. Some lawmakers and refugee advocates have been pushing for passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act, which might create a pathway to citizenship for Afghans.

Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, mentioned she welcomes the Biden administration’s determination to grant TPS to Afghans. However she mentioned extra must be executed to supply a everlasting pathway to citizenship.

“Whereas TPS for Afghanistan is a vital safety software, it doesn’t deal with the authorized limbo confronted by tens of 1000’s of Afghans evacuated to the U.S. on humanitarian parole,” she mentioned in an announcement Wednesday. “Our nation’s ethical obligation to our Afghan allies and mates calls for the soundness that solely a pathway to everlasting residence can present.”

Earlier this month, DHS designated TPS for Ukraine as continues to assault that nation. 

Non permanent Protected Standing (TPS) is designated by DHS to sure foreigners whose house nations could also be experiencing an ongoing armed battle, an environmental catastrophe or different extraordinary circumstances that may forestall residents from returning safely to their house, in line with DHS.

Attain Rebecca Morin at Twitter @RebeccaMorin_