Congressman Jason Crow Applauds Biden Administration’s Decision on Immigration Status for Afghan Evacuees

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) today applauded Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas's designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Through Operation Allies Welcome, most Afghan nationals who arrived during the evacuation effort were paroled into the United States on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons for a period of two years and then had to apply for work authorization. Following this announcement, these individuals are able to apply for TPS, which would automatically provide work permits and a stay of deportation for the next 18 months.

"The conditions on the ground in Afghanistan have been horrific since the Taliban's takeover last year. We have a moral obligation to ensure vulnerable Afghans and those who aided US efforts over the past 20 years are protected and that those in the United States are not deported into this dangerous situation. I applaud this announcement by Secretary Mayorkas and the Biden Administration, which is an important step to providing our Afghan friends the safety, security, and peace of mind they need," Congressman Crow said of the announcement.

"This TPS designation will help to protect Afghan nationals who have already been living in the United States from returning to unsafe conditions," said Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. "Under this designation, TPS will also provide additional protections and assurances to trusted partners and vulnerable Afghans who supported the U.S. military, diplomatic, and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan over the last 20 years."

TPS will apply only to those individuals who are already residing in the United States as of March 15, 2022, and meet all other requirements, including undergoing security and background checks. Those who attempt to travel to the United States after March 15, 2022, will not be eligible for TPS. Additional information about registering for TPS can be found at Temporary Protected Status | USCIS.

Secretary Mayorkas is designating Afghanistan for TPS on the statutory bases of ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent the country's nationals from returning in safety. Armed conflict that poses a serious threat to the safety of returning nationals is ongoing in Afghanistan as the Taliban seeks to impose control in all areas of the country and Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) conducts attacks against civilians. Extraordinary and temporary conditions that further prevent nationals from returning in safety include a collapsing public sector, a worsening economic crisis, drought, food and water insecurity, lack of access to healthcare, internal displacement, human rights abuses and repression by the Taliban, destruction of infrastructure, and increasing criminality.

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