Afghanistan Times
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Kabul: The Biden administration will continue to allow tens of thousands of Afghans who fled Afghanistan more than two years ago to stay and work in the US, as congressional efforts have stalled that were meant to permanently resolve their immigration status, according to two people familiar with the plan.
The effort is a temporary fix for more than 76,000 Afghans who arrived in the US following the military’s chaotic and deadly withdrawal of US troops. Many of those who arrived in the country have worked with US officials as translators, interpreters and other partners.
Immigrant advocate groups and veterans who have been working alongside the government trying to find a more permanent pathway for Afghans called the move a bandaid — but better than nothing.
“Afghans have been languishing on our shores awaiting a long-term answer and Congress continues to play games with their future,” said Shawn Van Diver, a Navy veteran and head of #AfghanEvac, a coalition supporting Afghan resettlement efforts. But he said he was happy the Biden administration would allow them to stay as Congress can’t find a solution.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress had hoped to resolve their immigration status, enabling them to apply for US citizenship, but that effort failed over some Republican opposition.
