In the past year since the Taliban took control of the Afghanistan government, over 70,000 Afghans were evacuated to the United States. Non-profit agencies across the United States, including Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, quickly pivoted to serve this significant influx of Afghan evacuees during a time of uncertainty and upheaval. 

Afghans were initially housed on military bases around the county, with the closest geographical base to Northeast Iowa being Fort McCoy, near Sparta, Wisconsin. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque collaborated with the La Crosse agency to recruit, process, and train dozens of volunteers from October 2021 - January 2022 for a total of 2,562 hours served. These volunteers worked to provide morale, wellness, and recreational activities for Afghans of all ages. The compassion and dedication shown by the volunteers was truly incredible, with many people committing to multiple weeks of service! They shared stories of heartbreak and resiliency, laughter and learning as they became acquainted with the Afghan guests during this transitional time in their lives. "What others should know about Ft. McCoy is that it is a place where joy arises from all the sorrow. There wasn’t one day when I didn’t hear laughter or see smiles in their eyes. Yes, we can talk about the politics behind all of this, or how traumatized this community is. But, what I want people to know is that the Afghan guests are some of the most joyful, devoted, and loving people I have met." - Fort McCoy Volunteer

As Afghans were resettled into Northeast Iowa, the focus of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque shifted to post-resettlement services including Immigration Legal Services, Case Management, Poverty Reduction, Translation, and Community Navigation. The capacity of these programs was dramatically increased in order to accommodate hundreds of Afghan evacuees. New staff was hired from among the Afghan community to provide translation and case management services in Pashto & Dari. Law students from the University of Iowa Law School were also recruited as volunteers to provide additional legal support. Our agency also hired an additional immigration attorney to address the numerous immigration matters faced by Afghans.

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Because of the urgency of the limited immigration legal processes available to the Afghan evacuees, the Immigration Legal staff at Catholic Charities moved quickly to educate, intake, and process the stories inherent to the individual cases. Multiple weekend workshops led by the CC immigration attorneys covered various legal statuses available to Afghan evacuees including Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), and Asylum, and were attended by dozens of newly resettled Afghans. Catholic Charities also partnered with the Iowa Bar Association to provide Asylum training to attorneys across the state who were interested in providing pro bono services. 

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque is the only non-profit provider of Immigration Legal Services in Northeast Iowa and has a staff of 5 attorneys and 3 legal assistants. Our staff works closely with individuals and families on a personal level and many times identify additional needs beyond the standard legal services. At this point, the Catholic Charities’ Case Managers step in to connect families to services like rental assistance, utility assistance, counseling services, and referrals to a wide network of community partners. Catholic Charities was also granted funding from the No Kid Hungry organization to provide food vouchers for culturally appropriate food, including to the newly arrived Afghan families. 

Building community and stability for our Afghan neighbors will continue to be a long-term focus of Catholic Charities. The extensive immigration legal cases are only one component of this work. Community outreach and education are important needs that are being met in a number of ways. On September 16th, 2022, Catholic Charities is hosting a Multicultural Resource Fair at the Sister Mary Lawrence Center in Cedar Rapids. This event features over 20 local agencies and will be an opportunity for families to build connections and find necessary resources. Interpreters will be on-site to help attendees as well. The resource fair is free and open to the public. 

While the road ahead is far from easy for Afghan evacuees in Northeast Iowa, there is hope for a better future. That hope is visible in the smiles and kindness of our Afghan neighbors as they pass through our doors, finding the dignity and compassion that are fundamental to the work of Catholic Charities.

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

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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