Blumenthal Backs Pathway To Permanent Status In US For Afghan Allies

by Staff Report CTNewsJunkie

Someone who aids and protects US troops deserves support and protection, not persecution, according to US Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-CT.

Blumenthal on Thursday joined colleagues in introducing the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide a clear pathway for wartime Afghan allies who were evacuated by the US government during the 2021 withdrawal to receive lasting protection in the United States.

Blumenthal cited a person, “Zia S.” an Afghan interpreter residing in Connecticut who Blumenthal said was arrested by masked ICE agents after a routine biometrics appointment for his Green Card.

“Our Afghan allies who aided and protected our troops during the conflict in Afghanistan deserve our unwavering protection,” he said. “Unfortunately, this administration is punishing and persecuting law-abiding wartime allies like Zia, an Afghan interpreter who was detained by ICE at his routine biometric appointment in Connecticut. A clear pathway to permanent legal status is long overdue for these allies who put their lives on the line for our service members.”

According to a statement from Blumenthal’s office, Zia worked as a translator and cultural advisor contractor for American forces at Camp Mike Spann in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. His youngest brother was also an interpreter, marking their family as pro-American and a target of violent retaliation by the Taliban.

Zia has no criminal history and traveled to the United States using an approved humanitarian parole visa and travel documents issued by the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. He has received Chief of Mission approval in his Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) case and has a pending Green Card application. On July 16, he was seized by masked ICE agents outside a federal immigration service center in East Hartford, Connecticut, where he had his biometrics taken as the first step in the processing of his Green Card application.

Currently, Afghans who were admitted into the United States with humanitarian parole, a temporary status, can only gain permanent legal residency through the asylum system or the Special Immigrant Visa process, which face severe backlogs and long processing times, Blumenthal said. Providing a pathway for Afghan allies to apply for legal permanent residency, following additional vetting, will help provide more certainty as they build their lives in the United States.

The legislation was led by US senators Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, and Lisa Murkowski, R-AK. and also co-sponsored by senators Chris Coons, D-DE, Lindsey Graham, R-SC, Bill Cassidy, R-LA, Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, and Mike Rounds, R-SD.

This legislation is endorsed by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), AMVETS, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, With Honor Action, No One Left Behind, #AfghanEvac, and the Evacuate Our Allies Coalition. 

“For nearly two decades, our Afghan allies stood shoulder to shoulder with our troops. They fought for the ideals of democracy and the promise that is America,” said Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Hunter said a majority of IAVA members believe the country must do more to keep the country’s promise to its allies.

“Countless of them stepped up to help Afghan refugees during the withdrawal because we know what loyalty means,” Hunter said.

AMVETS National Executive Director Joe Chenelly agreed, calling the act “a critical step toward upholding our nation’s commitments to those who bravely stood beside American service members.”

Many individuals risked their lives to support US missions and continue to be in danger as a result, he said.