WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Mike Rounds (R-SD), introduced the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide a pathway for wartime Afghan allies who were evacuated by the U.S. government during the 2021 withdrawal to receive lasting protection in the United States.
Currently, Afghans who were admitted into the United States on a temporary humanitarian parole status can only gain permanent legal residency through the asylum system or the Special Immigrant Visa process, which face severe backlogs and long processing times. Providing a pathway for Afghan allies to apply for legal permanent residency, following additional vetting, will help provide more certainty as they build their lives in the United States.
“Giving our wartime Afghan allies a chance to pursue legal status is the right and necessary thing to do,” said Klobuchar. “This bipartisan legislation will increase vetting and help provide Afghans who came to the United States at the end of the war with the legal certainty they deserve as they rebuild their lives. Many of our Afghan allies are facing even more uncertainty and risk right now, and I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation.”
“We must stand by those who stand with us in times of war. It’s astonishing to know that we would turn our backs on the Afghans who served with us and send our trusted partners back to Afghanistan, where they will face certain death. I’m proud to work with Senator Klobuchar on this legislation, which has been revised over the years to ensure that U.S. national security is protected. I hope we can move the bill forward quickly when we return to session in September,” said Murkowski.
"For nearly two decades, our Afghan allies stood shoulder to shoulder with our troops. They fought for the ideals of democracy and the promise that is America. 72% of IAVA members believe we must do more to keep our promise to our allies. Countless of them stepped up to help Afghan refugees during the withdrawal because we know what loyalty means. IAVA fully supports this legislation and we thank Senators Klobuchar and Murkowski for leading the charge to do right by those who risked everything for our shared mission,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
"AMVETS proudly supports the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act as a critical step toward upholding our nation’s commitments to those who bravely stood beside American service members. Many of these individuals risked their lives to support U.S. missions in combat, intelligence, and humanitarian operations, and they continue to face grave danger as a result. This overdue legislation strengthens security through enhanced vetting while providing a clear, lawful pathway to protection for our Afghan allies,” said AMVETS National Executive Director, Joe Chenelly.
“As a light infantry commander in Afghanistan, my interpreter was like a second company commander. I leaned on him for much more than language translation, and he served the U.S. as faithfully and loyally as any U.S. soldier. Thankfully, he made it to safety, but far too many of our closest allies remain in danger abroad or without a pathway to standardized vetting and permanent legal status in the United States,” said Andrew Sullivan, Executive Director of No One Left Behind. “This legislation is a necessary, veterans-led priority to secure our Afghan allies who face targeted retribution for their service to the U.S. missions in Afghanistan.”
“The United States has a moral obligation to support the Afghans who risked their lives to aid and protect our service members and diplomats during America’s longest war. The Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act is a vital step to keep our word, strengthen national security, and uphold the values that define us as a nation," said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. "We are grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Murkowski for their bipartisan leadership on this critical effort to protect our wartime allies and honor America's promise.”
“We made a promise. To the Afghan men and women who stood beside us, it wasn’t just a matter of policy — it was a matter of honor. This bill is a critical step in keeping that promise, and I’m grateful to see leaders from both parties standing united to do just that. Now let’s get it passed and signed,” said Shawn VanDiver, President, #AfghanEvac.
This legislation is endorsed by: The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), AMVETS, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, With Honor Action, No One Left Behind, #AfghanEvac, and the Evacuate Our Allies Coalition.
Full text of the bill can be found here.
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