Washington, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that it will not extend the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which will expire on May 20. The measure will leave nearly 9,000 Afghans facing the possibility of deportation. Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum, released the following quote:
“Allowing TPS for Afghans to expire will negatively affect thousands of recipients, the communities who welcomed them, and the American businesses who hired them.
“Afghans living legally in the U.S. thanks to TPS and other mechanisms have become our neighbors and colleagues, and they should not be forced to return to dangerous conditions that still exist in Afghanistan. Americans have welcomed and overwhelmingly have supported permanent solutions for Afghans, including 3 in 4 evangelicals in a February Lifeway Research poll.
“We urge the administration to reconsider the decision to end TPS for Afghanistan, including Afghan allies who fought alongside our military. We also call on Congress to find long-term immigration solutions that allow resettled Afghans to stay safe and thrive in the United States.