On August 15, 2021, the government of Afghanistan fell under Taliban control—and a massive evacuation effort began to bring more than 76,000 Afghans to safety in the United States. Now, four years later, Afghan allies and community members are once more at grave risk.
Who are our Afghan allies?
Throughout the United States’ 20-year military and diplomatic mission in Afghanistan, many Afghan nationals bravely assisted U.S. troops as interpreters for the military, drivers, cultural advisors, and more. Take Nassir, a former combat interpreter who survived multiple attempts on his life while aiding the U.S. and now works at Global Refuge. (Hear his story.) Many of our Afghan allies like Nassir have long received bipartisan support and are considered brothers, sisters, and friends of many U.S. military members and veterans.
Other Afghans in the United States worked as lawyers, judges, teachers, artists, journalists, women’s rights activists and beyond who fought against the Taliban’s persecution of women and violations of human rights. Still others are those who lived in constant fear of violence or sought a better future for their children, particularly their daughters.
Over the years, Afghans have become vital members of communities across the country—like Abdul and Zahra, who worked with Global Refuge’s New American Lending initiative and now run a successful catering business in their city. (Read their story.)
How did Afghans come to the United States?
Before the 2021 evacuation, Afghans came to the United States through the traditional U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) or the Special Immigrant Visa program (SIV), which provided specialized visas and support for Afghans who aided the U.S. war effort.
President Biden announced his intention to remove U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021, and the U.S. opened additional pathways to safety. They were welcome, but insufficient; when the Taliban seized power, tens of thousands of those at risk needed to be evacuated immediately. The ensuing evacuation and Operation Allies Welcome allowed Afghans to come to the United States through the Afghan humanitarian parole program—although countless family members and other at-risk Afghans were left behind in Afghanistan before the evacuation ended.
Today, options are extremely limited. A wide-ranging suspension of the U.S. refugee program is still in place. The recently issued travel ban forbids almost all Afghans from coming to the United States, including the families of those already here. While some people are still able to come to the United States through the SIV program, their travel must be self-funded—an impossibility for many.
How does Global Refuge help Afghan refugees and evacuees?
Before the evacuation in 2021, Global Refuge had long been resettling Afghans through the USRAP and SIV programs. In August 2021, we were one of the first organizations to spring into action—quickly establishing the Neighbors in Need: Afghan Allies emergency fund and mobilizing our network to support and welcome nearly 11,000 Afghans in 27 states.
We’ve continued to welcome and provide services to Afghans in the four years since the evacuation, helping refugees, SIV holders, humanitarian parolees, and those with Temporary Protected Status to enroll their children in school, find sustainable employment, access mental health care and medical care, and more.
Simultaneously, Global Refuge has been at the forefront of advocating for protections and pathways for Afghans in the United States and beyond. We have been an active member of the Evacuate Our Allies coalition and have played a pivotal role in the introduction of several iterations of the Afghan Adjustment Act, which would adjust the immigration status of tens of thousands of Afghans, creating a streamlined pathway to permanency and allowing them to stay in the United States safely. These efforts have unfortunately been unsuccessful as of August 2025, but we continue to push for protection pathways.
In lieu of an Afghan Adjustment Act, many Afghans have pursued permanent residency through other pathways, including the SIV program and asylum system, but these are often costly, laborious processes.
Why are Afghans in the U.S. in danger?
Afghans still waiting on a permanent status are now facing the end of their humanitarian parole—jeopardizing their work permits, drivers’ licenses, and, for many, legal immigration status. Without these essential protections, a source of income to feed and house their families, or access to basic services like healthcare, they face hunger, homelessness, and—worst of all—deportation.
The administration also ended Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan, which gives those whose country is unsafe to return to protection from deportation and eligibility for work authorization. While it’s currently being litigated, Afghans with TPS have lost those protections, too.
To be clear, Afghans who served with U.S. troops, have been lawfully admitted to the United States, supported human rights, and contributed to their new communities are at risk of losing everything. This crisis is an abdication of our moral duties and a betrayal to those we promised we’d help.
What can I do to help Afghan refugees and evacuees in the U.S.?
There are several potential policy changes that could protect Afghans in the U.S. We invite you to join us in calling for an increase in SIVs, parole and work permit extensions, increased funding from Congress, and legislation that will adjust status and provide a pathway to citizenship.
There are many ways to help:
Reach out to your members of Congress.
If Congresspeople see that their constituents are passionate about this issue, they are much more likely to support programs, bills, budget requests, and other proposals that support Afghans in the U.S. Check out our Action Center for pre-written messages and call scripts to help you connect with your Congresspeople, such as this message on Afghan SIV visas.
Spread the word.
Make sure that as many people know about this abdication of our moral responsibility as possible. Post on social media, talk to family and friends, or even consider drafting an op-ed for your local newspaper.
We’re here to help—stay in touch by signing up for our newsletter or reaching out to the Advocacy team. For a deep dive into the history of Afghans in the U.S. and the challenges they face today, watch and share our webinar.
Donate.
Supporting Global Refuge allows us to fill in the gaps for our Afghan neighbors as their rights and protections are stripped away—and to continue our vigorous advocacy on Capitol Hill and beyond.
If you are, know, or are supporting an Afghan without permanent residency, encourage them to carry their documentation at all times and seek help from a qualified immigration legal services provider as soon as possible. (Reach out to the Global Refuge Immigration Legal Services team.)
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