Biden administration plans to allow Afghan evacuees to renew their temporary legal status

Tens of thousands of Afghans who have been at risk of losing their legal ability to remain in the U.S. as early as this summer will be able to apply to stay and work in the country legally for at least two more years. This decision was made by the Department of Homeland Security as Congress has been unable to pass legislation to grant our Afghan allies the right to remain permanently in the U.S. within the necessary timeframe to ensure they do not lose their legal status.

Beginning in June, eligible Afghans will be able to submit an online application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to request a renewal of their humanitarian parole. USCIS will also set up at least five support centers to connect Afghans with lawyers to assist them in applying for renewal and immigration benefits and to offer health care, job placement assistance and other services to help them as they integrate into their local communities.

The Biden administration and border communities prepare for the end of Title 42

Detention facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border have reached capacity and areas surrounding migrant and homeless shelters in El Paso have become crowded as more migrants cross into the U.S. due to the approaching end of Title 42 restrictions on May 11.

In response, the El Paso mayor, Oscar Leeser, declared a state of emergency on Monday. This allows the city to open temporary emergency shelters and use federal and state funds and partner with the American Red Cross to manage humanitarian needs. Additionally, the Biden administration announced that it will be temporarily deploying 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border to assist with administrative duties and detection and monitoring on the ground but they will not be working in a law enforcement capacity.

As border towns struggle to meet the humanitarian needs of migrants entering their communities and the President’s administration continues to develop new plans to address the end of Title 42, it becomes increasingly more clear that Congress must be proactive and pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation that both honors the rule of law and national security and welcomes our immigrant neighbors with compassion. Read more and contact your legislators using this link.

This week's news blog was written by Jen Wellman.