The tragedy that took place in August 2021 in Afghanistan was overwhelming to the senses in so many ways.  This is not the first time, nor the last time our country will step in to help care for those most vulnerable and suffering. Just as importantly, it will take steadfast courage from all of us, elected representatives, faith and community leaders, and our neighbors, to help welcome all refugees.

The once vibrant refugee resettlement infrastructure that once existed throughout the US, that allowed communities, like ours, to open our arms and hearts to refugees from around the world, no longer exists.  In 2017, the Trump administration drastically reduced the admission number of refugees who could legally resettle in the US. As a result, refugee resettlement agencies like ours were forced to close permanently. Now, the only refugee resettlement agencies that exist are in the larger cities like Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, & Iowa City. 

For the Afghan nationals living in the Archdiocese of Dubuque, our Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services (ILS) team is providing legal representation to navigate the complex immigration law process. This is one component of the broader post-resettlement support Catholic Charities is providing to our Afghan brothers & sisters in Northeast Iowa. Our expanded humanitarian services beyond the 3-month window of support provided by the federal refugee resettlement program include immigration legal services, poverty reduction, community navigation, interpretation, and advocacy. We have also hired additional staff in order to provide services in Pashto & Dari for the Afghan community. These efforts are part of Catholic Charities' commitment to the long-term stabilization of these vulnerable families in our communities. 

Help us welcome newly arrived Afghans to our communities through your prayer, volunteering, and advocacy. 

PRAYER:
Merciful God, we pray for families and individuals who have left or fled their homes, seeker safer and better lives. We lift up to you their hopes, fears, and needs, that they may be protected on their journeys, their dignity and rights may be honored and upheld, and they may be welcomed with open arms into generous and compassionate communities. Amen. (Catholic Charities USA)

VOLUNTEER:
The remaining refugee resettlement agencies in the state are seeking volunteer support for various services. CLICK HERE for the list of refugee resettlement agencies in Iowa and their contact information. For those interested in donating material items, we encourage you to reach out to the refugee resettlement agencies to determine the specific needs of the Afghan families. 

SPONSOR CIRCLES:
For the first time, the U.S. Department of State is allowing private citizens to sponsor and resettle refugees through a newly developed program called The Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans. This new community-led resettlement initiative enables everyday Americans to take on the responsibility of welcoming Afghan newcomers to their communities. CLICK HERE for more information about Sponsor Circles. 

DONATE:
Catholic Charities is actively involved in the post-resettlement support of Afghan families in our communities. Your gift directly supports this important humanitarian work of stabilizing families as they navigate their new communities and the complex immigration legal system. CLICK HERE to donate online. 

On May 19, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice (FRN) designating Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months from May 20, 2022, through Nov. 20, 2023.

This designation allows Afghan nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan) who have continuously resided in the United States since March 15, 2022, to file initial applications for TPS. The FRN provides instructions for applying for TPS and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). TPS applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and undergo security and background checks.

Afghanistan’s 18-month TPS designation will go into effect on May 20, 2022, and individuals must also prove their continuous physical presence in the United States since the designation date. The FRN explains the procedures necessary for an individual to submit an initial registration application under the designation and to apply for an EAD.

For the most current information related to Temporary Protected Status, visit the USCIS TPS webpage.

Update as of March 10, 2022:

Tens of thousands of Afghans and their families have arrived in the U.S. to be resettled and are now in need of a pathway to real and lasting safety. 

Most Afghans have arrived with temporary immigration parole, which allows people fleeing danger to remain in the U.S. for a limited time period only. These Afghans will need to find another pathway to remain in the country permanently once their parole expires (2023).  

Currently, the only pathway available to thousands of resettled Afghans is asylum, a paperwork-intensive process with years-long backlogs that have prevented hundreds of thousands of people from finding safety in the U.S. In order to make a successful asylum claim, these Afghans will be asked to provide proof that they would face violence in their home country—because of their work with Americans, with other international aid groups, with reporting on corruption, and more. Documents that demonstrate this are the same ones that Afghans were advised to destroy in order to escape or elude the Taliban during the U.S.-led evacuation. 

An Afghan Adjustment Act, patterned after similar legislation such as the Cuban Adjustment Act following the Cuban Revolution, offers an important correction by allowing these Afghan evacuees to apply to become lawful permanent residents, the same permanent status they would have received had they been admitted through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Rather than penalizing our new Afghan neighbors for being evacuated by the U.S government, Congress has an urgent moral obligation to ensure they have a chance to integrate fully and thrive within our communities.

The national resettlement agencies of the United States, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, together with its Catholic Charities partners and other community organizations, have been hard at work the past few months helping Afghans settle into their new homes. The task of helping Afghans to file asylum applications would fall to these resettlement agencies and legal service providers, which are already stretched thin. For these reasons, an Afghan Adjustment Act would benefit not only the Afghans themselves but also the NGOs serving them and federal agencies such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

This need is urgent, and right now Congress is negotiating legislation that will fund the federal government for the rest of Fiscal Year 2022. It is imperative that members of Congress hear loudly and clearly that an Afghan Adjustment Act should be included in the final funding package.

TAKE ACTION TODAY: Urge members of Congress to advance an Afghan Adjustment Act

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/ugVVZLY45o87VBu259Wzdw

On August 29, 2021, President Biden directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to lead the implementation of ongoing efforts across the federal government to support vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked alongside us in Afghanistan for the past two decades, as they safely resettle in the United States. These coordinated efforts will be known as Operation Allies Welcome. At the President’s direction, the Secretary of Homeland Security will work with representatives from across the government to coordinate our response and ensure unity of effort across the federal government.
 

Operation Allies Welcome