SpecialImmigrantVisa

Some of the most important immigration news you have may missed over the holiday break

Quite a bit of news gets lost during the holidays, between vacations, staycations, visiting loved ones, or simply just tuning out for some mental health purposes. On an issue like immigration, even …

Mon Jan 3, 2022

First U.S. base to welcome Afghans is now first to close, as refugees resettled to new homes

In late July, Fort Lee in Virginia became the first U.S. military base to shelter refugees evacuated from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Rescue. In a statement, President Biden called this …

Thu Nov 18, 2021

DHS secretary questioned on possible Remain in Mexico return, border abuses during Senate hearing

Sen. Alex Padilla during a Senate hearing Tuesday addressed some of the most pressing issues raised by immigrant and human rights advocates in recent weeks, including the possible court-ordered return …

Wed Nov 17, 2021

Roughly 1,300 children evacuated to U.S. from Afghanistan are waiting to be reunited with parents

CBS News reported in August that at least 34 Afghan children were classified as “unaccompanied minors” after being evacuated to the U.S. without parents. In the months since the Biden administration …

Sat Nov 13, 2021

'Will help facilitate their resettlement': USCIS to waive application fees for Afghan refugees

CBS News reports that advocates for refugees evacuated from Afghanistan this past summer as part of Operation Allies Rescue have urged the Biden administration to waive immigration-related fees. Many …

Tue Nov 9, 2021

Biden admin announces program allowing private individuals to sponsor Afghan refugees

Private individuals and community groups will now be able to sponsor Afghan refugees under a new program announced by the Biden administration on Monday. Under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans, …

Mon Oct 25, 2021

Senate GOP voted to strip aid from Afghan refugees as resettlement agencies struggle to find housing

Resettlement agencies tell CNN that while they’ve typically had months to set up housing for refugees being welcomed to the U.S., that’s not the case when it comes to Afghan translators and family …

Tue Oct 5, 2021

Biden admin raises refugee admissions cap to 125,000, reversing historic low set by previous admin

The Biden administration announced on Monday that it will raise the refugee admissions cap to 125,000 in the upcoming 2022 fiscal year, fulfilling a key campaign promise by President Joe Biden that …

Tue Sep 21, 2021

Montana mayor says he 'cannot wait to welcome' Afghans after GOP congressman sends gross tweet

California and Texas are expected to soon receive the largest numbers of Afghan refugees who were evacuated from Afghanistan as part of Operation Allies Rescue, CBS News reports. California is set to …

Tue Sep 21, 2021

Senators say unspent funds should go to aiding Afghan refugees, not 'already bloated' defense budget

The federal government has billions in unspent funds following the official withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan—and that money should be reallocated to aid refugees who have now been …

Wed Sep 15, 2021

'August 31 may be the Biden administration's deadline, but it is not ours,' refugee advocates say

While the U.S. military forces are finally out of Afghanistan after two decades of war, advocates who have been working to evacuate and resettle Afghan allies and their families said during a call …

Tue Aug 31, 2021

At least 34 Afghan children have been classified as unaccompanied after traveling without parents

CBS News reports that a number of children evacuated from Afghanistan have been classified as unaccompanied minors after entry into the U.S. and transferred into the custody of the Department of …

Fri Aug 27, 2021

Rep. Veronica Escobar visits Afghan refugees at base: 'I saw infants. I saw a mom nursing her baby'

On Wednesday, El Paso Rep. Veronica Escobar visited Afghan refugees at Fort Bliss in Texas, one of several U.S. military bases where allies and their families are being temporarily sheltered before …

Thu Aug 26, 2021

'We have never seen this kind of increase in people wanting to volunteer,' refugee advocate says

Recent polling has shown overwhelming public support—81%—for welcoming Afghan refugees who aided U.S. military. The Washington Post reports that support is being seen across the U.S., with …

Tue Aug 24, 2021

New poll shows 81% support for welcoming Afghan allies who aided U.S.

New CBS News/YouGov polling released over the weekend shows overwhelming support for evacuating Afghan translators and other allies to the United States. Overall, 81% responded affirmatively when …

Mon Aug 23, 2021

'We’re not getting any assurance': Former Afghan translator makes urgent plea for stranded family

Qismat Amin is safe. Tragically, his family is not. The former Afghan translator tells BuzzFeed News that he’s spent multiple sleepless nights worried about his family in Jalalabad. A brother is also …

Fri Aug 20, 2021

Growing number of governors tell Biden admin they're ready to welcome Afghan families

A growing number of bipartisan governors have said Afghan allies and family members are welcome to build new lives in their states and communities. In Oregon, Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said that the …

Fri Aug 20, 2021

NBC News really decided to quote white supremacist Stephen Miller on aiding Afghan allies

The Senate last month unanimously (!) passed a spending package that included provisions increasing the number of special visas for Afghan allies by the thousands. That package was also approved by …

Wed Aug 18, 2021

Biden admin asks workers to volunteer in number of states as part of Afghan resettlement effort

The Biden administration is expanding a previous call for federal volunteers to aid in the U.S. resettlement of Afghan allies and their family members. CNN reports that the administration has asked …

Wed Aug 18, 2021

'Skip the bureaucratic bull—, get people on planes,' Arizona congressman says about Afghan allies

Advocates who have been appealing to the Biden administration for months now to evacuate Afghan allies quickly and their families to a U.S. territory expressed anger and frustration at U.S. failure to …

Tue Aug 17, 2021