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Most support bill putting Afghan allies on path to legalization. It's time for Congress to act [1]
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Date: 2022-09-15
“When presented with information about the support the legislation has from prominent veterans organizations, public support for the Afghan Adjustment Act increases by 17 percentage points,” More in Common and YouGov said in a report. They said support grows even more, by another 16 points, when respondents are informed about “robust security measures” within the act.
While individual veterans and veterans groups have been among the most vocal supporters of the Afghan Adjustment Act, it’s virtually unknown to most Americans. The polling said roughly seven in ten have never heard of it before. While many Americans have likely heard about the evacuation of Afghan allies last year, most are also probably unaware that tens of thousands of these refugees arrived to the U.S. on a temporary basis, meaning they could become vulnerable to deportation.
x Today we stood w/veterans, advocates, & powerful voices like that of Mohammed Naeem of the American Immigration Council. Listen to his story. It’s our story. It’s what we must deliver to the thousands who would be served and saved by the #AfghanAdjustmentAct.#ThisIsHome pic.twitter.com/1ESgFrEu8G — The Afghan-American Foundation (@Afghan_American) August 10, 2022
Afghan-led groups were among the hosts of organizations that welcomed the introduction of the legislation last month. The bill would create a pathway to legalization for Afghans who were evacuated to the U.S. through humanitarian parole.
Either the asylum system or Special Immigrant Visa process could grant them permanent relief, but “both face severe backlogs and long processing times,” lawmakers said.
“Passing the Afghan Adjustment Act would be one step towards fulfilling one of the many promises US has made to their allies, especially Afghan women,” said Helal Massomi. The women’s rights activist was evacuated here last summer. “For people like myself, the Afghan Adjustment Act is the sole pathway to safety and a future in the United States.”
More in Common and YouGov’s polling found that most Americans, 66%, support relocating US-affiliated and at-risk Afghans anywhere in the US. Notably, the polling said that “Americans who are surrounded by those who are immigrants, refugees, or Muslims are more supportive of relocating US-affiliated and at-risk Afghans to the United States.”
Respondents who agreed most with the statement that “[t]he US should take in as many US-affiliated and at-risk Afghans as it can” either know someone who is a refugee or live in a community with a large immigrant or refugee population.
x Have we mentioned that hundreds of veterans groups, including @iava, @VFWHQ and The @AmericanLegion support the #AfghanAdjustmentAct?
Tell Congress to heed the call of our service members and pass this bill. Our Afghan allies deserve permanent protection:
https://t.co/Ucqa4CQwVh https://t.co/ppbiGcUmQk pic.twitter.com/y7TkiqXdp4 — Krish O'Mara Vignarajah (@KrishVignarajah) September 14, 2022
“A potential Afghan Adjustment Act has received overwhelming support from organizations including Amnesty International, Veterans for American Ideals, and International Refugee Assistance Project,” Alexandra Martinez wrote for Prism Reports last year. “Advocates of the potential policy hope to receive bipartisan support from the policy in Congress.”
Clearly, the American people support it, too. But efforts to pass it as part of the Ukraine supplemental failed, due to Republican obstruction. It’s unclear whether a stand-alone vote will happen. Take a moment to contact your senators and them that America must keep its promise to our Afghan allies.
RELATED STORIES:
Afghan groups, evacuees welcome legalization bill: 'The United States must keep its solemn promise'
'The American dream I am enjoying today': Former interpreter urges permanent relief for Afghans
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