UUSJ continues its work in achieving stability for Afghans, an effort that began mid-summer. The needed stability, welcome, and promises veterans keep are best exemplified in the Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA).

For UUSJ, these are the principled concerns at stake. 

In early September, the Immigration Action Team (IAT) led, co-led, and participated in 12 Senate and House meetings as part of the Evacuate Our Allies (EOA) coalition, playing a pivotal role as volunteer experts and showing UU solidarity in the work. In those meetings, UUSJ gained co-sponsorship support for the AAA from two Senate offices and one House office.

UUSJ then extended that effort with the UU Service Committee (UUSC) and met with an additional nine Republican Senate offices, all key on the AAA, and brought 111 constituents – including those who are not UUs –  into that direct federal advocacy. One such meeting included six constituents, none of whom were UU. Many volunteers shared moving and compelling stories, demonstrating solidarity and bravery. For many, this was the first time they had done such advocacy. 

In sum, our IAT leveraged direct federal advocacy in 21 offices to help defend our principled concerns and push towards a just outcome for Afghans, veterans, service providers, and the many UUs who are supporting recently-arrived Afghans in our local congregations and communities in keeping with our faith’s long tradition of welcome.

You can help. It is not too late to Tell Congress to Pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. Every voice matters; both Democrats and Republicans need to hear constituent support.

If you want to hear about advocacy opportunities, join that list HERE.

 

Background On Our Effort 

Leading up to September 2022:

• During the spring, on the heels of engagement to restore asylum by ending Title 42, and the Remain in Mexico policies, our Immigration Action Team (IAT) began researching the Afghan adjustment issue and decided to pressure Congress for the introduction of an Afghan Adjustment Act (AAA).
• UUSJ invited UUSC to join in our commitment to welcome Afghans. We shared our analysis and belief that supporting the AAA was prudent, and in keeping with our faith.
• UUSJ joined the amplification effort led by the Evacuate Our Allies (EOA) coalition in late July pressuring Congress to introduce the AAA.
• On August 9, a bicameral, bipartisan proposal was put forward (SB 4787 and HB 6585), revealing a closely-negotiated bill expected to gain support in time for the September Continuing Resolution (CR).
• UUSJ then joined the EOA coalition for an advocacy push, as a collaborating partner.

In September, when the AAA strategy met unexpected resistance among some staff – primarily in Republican offices – advocates, including UUSJ, sprung into action. We will need to keep up the work, yet we did get some modest but important wins in the CR passed on September 30 (Federal News Network).

When the IAT joined the EOA coalition, representing UU solidarity on the issues for veterans, refugees, resettlement service providers, and Afghans, the IAT moved to help conduct three days of intense advocacy. As part of the coalition, UUSJ supported EOA meetings with dozens of offices and hundreds of constituents of many faiths and backgrounds from across the entire U.S. UUSJ “carried water” on 12 of those meetings.

UUSJ also prepared to hold our own meetings and did so. The IAT targeted key Senate offices and held 9 meetings.

As with many campaigns, the push for AAA passage was driven by the legislative and electoral calendar and constantly-shifting Hill politics, as those in the fray drove toward the final goal.

• For now, there was not sufficient Republican support to insert the AAA into the September CR.

However, UUSJ, with the EOA coalition, did gain some important support for Afghans in the CR and has kept open the prospect for AAA passage later, perhaps during the lame duck session of congress, with our collective engagement of many Federal legislative offices.

The support gained includes:

• Section 122. Department of Defense transfers authority for Operations Allies Welcome. Includes transfers to the State Department.
• Section 147. Refugee and Entrant Assistance. Provides additional funding to address increased costs in refugee and entrant assistance.
• Section 149. Afghan Parolee Benefits. Extends the authorization for the same refugee benefits provided to Afghans granted parole through the fiscal year 2022 to Afghans granted parole during the continuing resolution.

Since the humanitarian parole for many Afghan immigrants will end in about a year, roughly August – October 2023, it is essential to pass the AAA post-haste, best before the end of the calendar year 2022. This would give service providers time to process their Afghan caseloads. Although this will not be easy, it is doable.

The further into 2023 we go, without the AAA, the harder it will be to get an adjustment, process caseloads, and achieve stability. Afghan arrivals since our withdrawal and evacuation will be left with great and unnecessary uncertainty to manage.

The IAT plans to continue its advocacy to achieve stability for Afghans, the principle of welcome, and to help veterans see that the U.S. keeps its promises.