Thousands of refugees, many of whom served alongside American troops as interpreters during the decades-long war, faced the prospect of soon having to return to Afghanistan.
Since the U.S. chaotically withdrew its final forces from Afghanistan in August 2021, politicians in Washington have failed to pass legislation that would carve out pathways to permanent residency for the thousands of Afghans evacuated to the U.S.
Those Afghans, many of whom faced potential reprisals from the Taliban
...the Pashtun equivalent of men..., were resettled in the U.S. using a short-term mechanism known as parole.
The parole program, which provided protection from deportation and the ability to work for two years, allowed the U.S. to avoid the typical years-long visa process.
But for thousands of Afghans, that parole expires this summer, which left their ability to work, send their kids to school, and stay in the country in limbo, Babak said.
Eligible Afghans in the U.S. will be able to re-apply for parole starting in June, the Department of Homeland Security said in a blurb Friday.
Applications will be considered on a "case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons and significant public benefit," it added, noting that additional details would be released soon.
Parole is a temporary measure and leaves Afghan refugees without a long-term solution.
DHS has encouraged Afghan refugees to apply for the special immigrant visa or asylum, but both processes are backlogged and lengthy, sometimes taking years to complete.
Refugee organizations and even former military leaders have called on Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide quicker pathways to permanent status for Afghans already in the U.S.