July 19, 2023

Veterans Organizations Demand Passage of Afghan Adjustment Act

WASHINGTON D.C. – More than two dozen veterans organizations called on Congress to act swiftly to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA) introduced last week (S.2327 and H.R.4627). The bill provides a pathway to permanent residency for Afghans who worked with the U.S. government or military and their families. The groups also expressed opposition to an alternative bill introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), which does not adequately support those left behind or meaningfully expand the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. It instead focuses on unrelated issues regarding the Southwest border. Afghan allies have been waiting years for Congress to create a pathway to their safety; they should not be used as pawns in a political debate on overall immigration reform.

A letter from major veteran organizations sent to congressional leaders urges the Senate to “Support the Afghan Adjustment Act as soon as possible. We promised to stand by our allies who – often at risk to themselves and their families – served in uniform or publicly defended women’s and democratic rights. The U.S. government made a similar promise; keeping it assures that the American commitments will be honored.”

The bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act was introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Senate version of the bill, S.2327, was introduced by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

“The Afghan Adjustment Act is critical to ensuring that Afghans who risked their lives to support the U.S. mission in Afghanistan are able to stay in the United States, raise their families in safety, join their new communities, land permanent jobs and build their lives here,” said Chris Purdy, Director of Veterans for American Ideals and Outreach at Human Rights First. “Congress must pass the AAA. Other proposals betray America’s veterans by undercutting our work over the last two years and betray Afghans by not adequately supporting those left behind or meaningfully expanding the SIV program.”

The veteran organizations signing the letter include The American Legion, #AfghanEvac, American Counterterrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI), Association of Wartime Allies, Black Veterans Project, Blue Star Families, CommonDefense.us, Evocati Public Relations, Honor the Promise, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, The Lamia Afghan Foundation, Military Child Education Coalition, Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN), Military Veterans in Journalism, Minority Veterans of America, No One Left Behind, Objective Zero Foundation, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, Reveille Foundation, Secure Families Initiative, Service Women’s Action Network, Soldiers’ Angels, Student Veterans of America, Union Veterans Council of the AFL-CIO, United Soldiers and Sailors of America - USASOA, Vet Voice Foundation, Veteran Esquire Legal Solutions, PLLC, Veterans in Global Leadership, Veterans for American Ideals, Vets4Afghans, and VoteVets. 

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Veterans for American Ideals (VFAI) is a coalition of veterans and allies who continue their service to America by upholding, defending, and advocating for human rights at home and abroad.