Padilla Statement on Administration Granting Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months:
“This is welcome news as we work to fulfill our obligation to the Afghans who worked as interpreters, contractors, and security personnel with the U.S. government throughout America’s longest war. I am grateful to see the Biden Administration offer Afghans residing in the U.S. protection from deportation back to a country where their lives and safety would clearly be at risk.
“We must also not forget about Afghan refugees who are still outside the United States. I encourage the Department to waive fees and expedite processing for the Afghans applying for humanitarian parole and to take immediate steps to expedite the SIV and refugee program processing.”
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.
Following the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Padilla called on President Biden to continue the safe relocation of Afghan refugees, parolees, evacuees, and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants currently residing in third countries to the United States.
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