U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) is an original cosponsor of a new bill that would allow Afghans seeking refuge in the United States to apply for permanent legal residency after undergoing additional vetting.
“This legislation establishes a pathway for our Afghan partners to begin a new life while also establishing a critical vetting process to reduce threats to our national security,” Sen. Moran said on Monday.
The Afghan Adjustment Act, S. 2327, is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and nine original cosponsors, including Sen. Moran and U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
Currently, Afghans who were admitted to the U.S. on temporary humanitarian status may only gain permanent legal status through the asylum system or Special Immigrant Visa process (SIV), which faces severe backlogs.
“The rushed and chaotic evacuation from Kabul resulted in the deaths of American service members and stranded thousands of our Afghan allies behind enemy lines,” said Sen. Moran. “For two decades, countless Afghans stood by our service members and risked their lives and their families’ lives to support our troops in Afghanistan. Now, nearly two years since the withdrawal, Afghans who escaped to the U.S. face uncertainty as their original parole statuses are set to expire soon.”
If enacted, S. 2327 would allow Afghans on humanitarian status who submit to additional vetting, including an in-person interview, to apply for permanent legal status, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
The bill also would expand the SIV program to include previously omitted groups, including the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command, the Afghan Air Force, and the Special Mission Wing of Afghanistan, the summary says.
Additionally, S. 2327 would establish a task force to develop and implement a strategy for supporting Afghans outside of the U.S. who are eligible for SIV status and require the U.S. State Department to respond to congressional inquiries about SIV applications, states the summary.
“Giving our Afghan allies a chance to apply for legal status is the right and necessary thing to do,” Sen. Klobuchar said. “This bipartisan legislation will help provide Afghans who have sacrificed so much for our country with the legal certainty they deserve as they rebuild their lives.”
The legislation is supported by several organizations, including The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Blue Star Families.