Refugee Congress Applauds Temporary Protected Status Designation for Afghanistan

Refugee Congress Applauds Temporary Protected Status Designation for Afghanistan

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2022

WASHINGTON–Refugee Congress applauds today's announcement of the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan.

This designation will help protect Afghans who arrived in the U.S. prior to March 15, 2022, and cannot safely return to Afghanistan due to armed conflict and attacks on civilians.

As an organization built and led by former refugees and asylees, we know firsthand the devastating consequences of violence and persecution and the importance of supporting those who are displaced due to these conditions.

While this announcement of additional protections is welcome, it is not a permanent path to naturalization. To ensure protection of Afghans in the U.S., Refugee Congress also calls for passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would provide a pathway to permanent safety in the U.S. for Afghans who came as Humanitarian Parolees.

Refugee Congress applauds the recent announcements designating TPS for Sudan and Ukraine and redesignation for South Sudan. We urge the administration to take swift action in the designation of TPS for other countries where conditions are unsafe for citizens to return to, including Cameroon, Mauritania and Ethiopia. We must provide individuals from these nations the same protection from being forced to return to very dangerous conditions.

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Refugee Congress is a nonpartisan advocacy organization built and led by former refugees, asylum-seekers and other vulnerable migrants to promote the well-being, integration and dignity of all vulnerable migrants. With delegates across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we use our voices and experiences to inform and influence decision-makers on critical domestic and international issues that affect our communities.

MEDIA CONTACT: (202) 905-6238, media@refugeecongress.org