US Won’t Deport Afghan Refugees; NJ Senator Praises Move

NEW JERSEY — U.S. officials granted temporary protected status (TPS) to refugees from Afghanistan on Wednesday. The move will protect Afghans who fled to the United States, including New Jersey, from deportation for 18 months.

The move saw praise from U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (see below).

TPS will apply only to those individuals who were already residing in the United States as of March 15, and who meet all other requirements, including undergoing security and background checks, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Afghan nationals who attempt to travel to the United States after March 15 will not be eligible.

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“This TPS designation will help to protect Afghan nationals who have already been living in the United States from returning to unsafe conditions,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

According to a news release from the agency:

“Armed conflict that poses a serious threat to the safety of returning nationals is ongoing in Afghanistan as the Taliban seeks to impose control in all areas of the country and Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) conducts attacks against civilians. Extraordinary and temporary conditions that further prevent nationals from returning in safety include a collapsing public sector, a worsening economic crisis, drought, food and water insecurity, lack of access to health care, internal displacement, human rights abuses and repression by the Taliban, destruction of infrastructure, and increasing criminality.”

The DHS adds:

“Through Operation Allies Welcome, most Afghan nationals who arrived as part of the evacuation effort were paroled into the United States on a case-by-case basis, for humanitarian reasons, for a period of two years and received work authorization. These individuals may also be eligible for TPS. Additional information about registering for TPS can be found at Temporary Protected Status | USCIS.”

Sen. Menendez issued the following statement on Wednesday in response to the TPS designation:

“As the United States continues to welcome and safely resettle Afghan refugees, I am encouraged that the Biden administration heeded our calls to designate Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status. Extending TPS ensures that Afghans already living in the United States — women and girls, families and children, religious and ethnic minorities — have the ability to live in peace without fear of being forcibly handed over to the Taliban.”

Menendez continued:

“I remain troubled, however, that we have not seen similar TPS designations for Cameroon and Ethiopia, two countries that clearly meet the requirements that Congress set forth for TPS designations. It is critical that TPS is not politicized to preference some countries over others. As I have said before, Black migrants are too often excluded when these important decisions are made. I will continue to urge the Biden administration to utilize TPS for countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or extraordinary conditions that prevent people from safely returning home. The United States must continue to lead the world as a safe haven for refugees and migrants who are unable to return home.”

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