As we’ve watched the evacuations from Afghanistan unfold, we’re realizing with horror that many, if not most, of the Afghans coming to the U.S. come without any immigration status: they’re not refugees, as they didn’t flee to a third country and receive that status there; many do not hold special immigrant visas, mostly because the U.S. puts a cap on how many SIVs they will grant for Afghans each year; and immigrants can only apply for asylum, an expensive and lengthy process, after they arrive in the U.S. This leaves our Afghan neighbors in a precarious immigration limbo.
What does this mean in practical terms? My dear friend and fellow immigrant advocate, Hannah Martin, explains:
Something unbelievably important to know: As of right now, the people coming from Afghanistan will not have refugee status when they come to the United States. They will come without access to healthcare, without access to food stamps, without access to housing. The only assistance they will receive is $1,250 per person, which is supposed to cover housing, food, and other basic needs. Realistically we know that this is not enough. Not only will they come to the United States without refugee status, which comes with benefits and support from the government, they will also have to apply for asylum. Which means the chances of them getting to stay are in question as well as a process that has not been expedited to support them. The asylum application process is long and hard, and does not include any financial support or temporary documents. I am among the many who are hoping to see this change in the coming days. In the meantime and continuing on in their journeys (refugee status or not), our Afghan neighbors will need housing, food assistance, household items, clothing, and more. If you are able and willing, please donate gift cards and cash/checks to your local organizations supporting refugee resettlement. Here in Colorado Springs, that is Lutheran Family Services: https://www.lfsrm.org/give-now/donate/
LFS can also use volunteers to help find housing, to pick up and deliver furniture, and to drive Afghan neighbors to important appointments. If you’re interested in helping, contact ASC COS volunteer coordinator Hannah Martin: csaccompaniment@gmail.com.
Finally, this from an immigration attorney:
Here is some information about how folks who are in a stable economic position can help newly arrived Afghan folks, through completing the I-134 affidavit of support. Thank you for your patience as the process of connecting thousands of people with thousands of people takes some time.
Clarification on “Sponsoring” Vulnerable Afghans in connection with their Humanitarian Parole Applications: The type of sponsorship that we desperately need is for folks to be signing Forms I-134, which is called Affidavit of Support. Although many of the Afghans that you will be sponsoring will have their own relatives or community members to stay with and be sheltered by, many of those relatives and community members DO NOT QUALIFY TO BE “SPONSORS” due to their financial circumstances. You can find Form I-134 itself as well as the instructions to it here: https://bit.ly/3zWmuYG. I advise you to seek independent legal advice for any further explanation and legal ramifications of signing this form. There are many of my colleagues who would be more than happy to volunteer to be that independent legal counsel strictly for the purposes of advising the I-134 sponsor, and I am sure many of them who read this will volunteer for the same.
If you have legitimate interest in financially sponsoring Afghans, let me know so I can connect you with the right people. Thanks for reading, and for considering how you can best show love to our immigrant neighbors!
stand4welcome 