Congress Fails to Pass Afghan Adjustment Act

CONGRESS’ FAILURE TO PASS AFGHAN ADJUSTMENT ACT IS ANOTHER DEEP BETRAYAL OF AFGHANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACT:
arash@weareafghans.org
202-277-5481

WASHINGTON DC – This morning, we learned that Congress failed to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA), a vital bill that would give a pathway to legal residency for newly arrived Afghans and assist those left behind. With a looming summer deadline where the legal status of new arrivals will be put in limbo, Congress had one last chance to ensure passage this month. It failed to do so, in yet another deep betrayal of Afghans.

While Congress is able to find countless billions for detention centers for migrants and more war overseas, its refusal to give Afghans a pathway to success in this country is a painful reminder of how little our own elected officials care about the Afghan community. In fact, America’s elected officials have failed Afghans so many times, we have lost count. This failure now leaves countless Afghans in legal limbo, forcing our own community to pick up the pieces yet again. The anti-immigrant Republicans, led by Senator McConnell and Senator Grassley, who opposed this legislation should be deeply ashamed, especially when 76% of Americans support the AAA.

We finally urge Senator Schumer to choose dignity over hate by allowing the Afghan Adjustment Act to be introduced on the Senate floor for an amendment vote.