Take Action: Urge the Administration to Expand Refugee Protections for Afghans Fleeing Violence and Persecution

On August 2nd, the State Department announced a Priority 2 (P-2) designation granting U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) access for certain Afghan refugees and their family members. This type of direct access program is designated for groups of special humanitarian concern to the United States in need of protection and resettlement. As the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, attacks from the Taliban on Afghan nationals who supported the U.S. mission have increased, and violence against Afghan women and children is at an all-time high. It is critical that the Biden administration urgently expands access to the U.S. resettlement program to provide refuge for Afghans fleeing violence and persecution. It is imperative that we contact our national elected leaders and hold the administration accountable.

Tell Congress to Urge the Administration to Expand and Expedite Access to the U.S. Resettlement Program for Afghan Refugees

Click “Send Email” on the right hand side to contact your 2 Senators and 1 Representative.

Make sure to personalize in text brackets.

Sample Email: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN] and [as a person of faith / refugee], I urge you to call on the administration to expand and expedite life-saving refugee protections for Afghans fleeing violence and persecution. It is imperative that as the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, the administration expands and expedites access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by increasing “Priority 1” referrals of Afghan refugees to USRAP, urgently implements the “Priority 2” direct access program for groups of Afghans of special humanitarian concern to the United States (with both in-country and third country processing) which was announced on August 2nd, and surges adjudication and processing resources to assist these refugees. These pathways should include, at minimum, family members of U.S. government employees, U.S. government employees not covered by the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, and other at-risk populations such as activists, journalists, religious and ethnic minorities, and humanitarian workers.

It is equally important that the administration simultaneously and urgently evacuate all Afghan allies, and their loved ones, who assisted the U.S. mission in Afghanistan to U.S. territory. We welcome the news that the U.S. government is evacuating approximately 2,500 Afghan allies and their family members to Fort Lee, Virginia to complete security screening and immigration processing -- but it is a small first step. It is vital that all of our Afghan allies (18,000 plus about 53,000 family members) be flown to U.S. territory and have their immigration applications expeditiously completed as well. The U.S. has done this before, and we must do it now.”

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Contact Your Senators and Representative Today!

Subject:

Please Urge the Administration to Expand Refugee Protections for Afghans Fleeing Violence and Persecution

Dear Official,

“I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN] and [as a person of faith / refugee], I urge you to call on the administration to expand and expedite life-saving refugee protections for Afghans fleeing violence and persecution. It is imperative that as the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, the administration expands and expedites access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by increasing “Priority 1” referrals of Afghan refugees to USRAP, urgently implements the “Priority 2” direct access program for groups of Afghans of special humanitarian concern to the United States (with both in-country and third country processing) which was announced on August 2nd, and surges adjudication and processing resources to assist these refugees. These pathways should include, at minimum, family members of U.S. government employees, U.S. government employees not covered by the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, and other at-risk populations such as activists, journalists, religious and ethnic minorities, and humanitarian workers.

It is equally important that the administration simultaneously and urgently evacuate all Afghan allies, and their loved ones, who assisted the U.S. mission in Afghanistan to U.S. territory. We welcome the news that the U.S. government is evacuating approximately 2,500 Afghan allies and their family members to Fort Lee, Virginia to complete security screening and immigration processing -- but it is a small first step. It is vital that all of our Afghan allies (18,000 plus about 53,000 family members) be flown to U.S. territory and have their immigration applications expeditiously completed as well. The U.S. has done this before, and we must do it now.”

Regards, Your Name

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Please encourage others to act! Share this alert, and urge others to contact Congress and the Administration, as well.

Sample Script: “I’m your constituent from [CITY/TOWN] and [as a person of faith / refugee], I urge you to do everything in your power to welcome unaccompanied children and asylum seekers at the border, terminate Title 42 expulsions, and ensure unaccompanied children are safe, housed, fed, and cared for. Children and families coming to the border are not a "surge" — they are people in need seeking safety and a better life. Illegal, immoral, and unnecessary, the Title 42 expulsion policy has sparked a chorus of condemnation from public health experts, legal scholars, former government officials, and members of Congress. Title 42 is a family separation policy and continues to turn children and families away, as well as Mexican unaccompanied children, elevating the serious risk of kidnapping, physical violence, extortion, and other profound consequences. It is equally imperative that Congress resources the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide unaccompanied children with community-based residential care, home studies, and post release services. Now is the time to say yes to welcoming children and families and all asylum seekers with compassion and dignity. My community welcomes people with dignity, and I urge you to do the same.”