SILVER SPRING, Maryland — The Department of Homeland Security announced Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Afghan nationals currently living in the United States. This designation will safeguard an estimated 77,000 people who arrived in the United States as of March 15, 2022, from return to the devolving and life-threatening conditions in Afghanistan.

As a member of the Temporary Protected Status – Deferred Enforced Departure Administrative Advocacy Coalition, CLINIC was one of over 100 organizations that called on the Biden administration to designate Afghanistan for TPS, following the leadership of the Afghan American Foundation, the Afghan American Community Organization and other Afghan-led organizations in securing this protection. While celebrating today’s announcement, CLINIC calls on the administration to use TPS more broadly and calls on Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act immediately. CLINIC also urges the administration to implement this decision swiftly and effectively by immediately publishing a Federal Register Notice to open registration and putting in place a robust, culturally competent outreach plan.

“We commend the Biden administration for making this life-saving decision that will protect Afghan people in the United States,” stated Anna Gallagher, executive director of CLINIC. “TPS for Afghanistan is a crucial part of the United States’ response, but it is just that: one part. A robust humanitarian response to the crisis in Afghanistan also includes the passage of the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees to access a pathway to legal permanent residency and gain the stability they need to build new lives. Our Catholic faith reminds us that we worship a shepherd God that is willing to leave most of his sheep to find the one that is missing (Matthew 18). While TPS for Afghanistan is the right decision, we must consider all Afghan people in our midst and ensure that we do not allow any one of them to fall through the cracks of our immigration system.”

Said Lisa Parisio, director of advocacy at CLINIC: “TPS is critically needed for Afghanistan. As we commend the Biden administration for this decision, we also urge a comprehensive response to the crisis in Afghanistan, including passing the Afghan Adjustment Act, and responding to other humanitarian and protection needs in line with the priorities of impacted people.

In addition to safeguarding Afghans in the U.S., TPS also sends an important message to the world that granting humanitarian protection to vulnerable people is the correct, moral, and humane response to conflict and disaster. The administration can and should use this readily-available tool more broadly, for all people in the U.S. in need of protection, including immediate TPS designations for Ethiopia, Cameroon and Mauritania.”