Media
Press Conference: Veterans, Refugees, Afghan Evacuees Urge Congress to Pass Afghan Adjustment Act
February 11, 2022
CONTACT: press@iava.org
WHAT: Veterans, refugee advocates, and Afghan evacuees will hold a press conference to urge members of Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act.
WHY: As a result of the U.S.’s hurried evacuation, the vast majority of Afghan evacuees were admitted to the country on a tenuous, short-term status known as humanitarian parole. This status does not confer a direct pathway to legal permanent residence; instead, tens of thousands of Afghans will have no other choice but to apply for asylum – a severely backlogged system boasting notoriously low grant rates – or face the prospect of deportation when their parole status expires after two years.
In order to provide a direct pathway to permanent legal residence, as the U.S. has previously done for every generation of wartime evacuees, Congress must pass an Afghan Adjustment Act.
Veterans and Afghan allies will emphasize their shared service and sacrifice over the course of America’s longest war, while refugee advocates will speak to the importance of lasting safety and stability in their successful resettlement.
WHO:Speakers urging Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act will be moderated by Chris Purdy, Director of Veterans for American Ideals, and will include:Matt Zeller, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America
Mike Jason, Veteran and Executive Director of AlliedAirlift21
Helal Massomi, Afghan Women’s Rights Advocate and Evacuee
Shawn VanDiver, Veteran and Founder of Afghan Evac
Lucky (pseudonym), Afghan Interpreter and Special Immigrant Visa recipient
Nadia Hashimi, Afghan-American pediatrician, novelist, and board member of the Afghan-American Foundation
Hanna Tripp, Veteran and Senior Policy Advisor at Minority Veterans of America
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President & CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
WHEN: Monday, February 14 at 11:00 am ET
WHERE: Supreme Court, at the corner of East Capitol St NE and First St NE
IAVA is the voice for the post-9/11 veteran generation. With over 425,000 veterans and allies nationwide, IAVA is the leader in non-partisan veteran advocacy and public awareness. We drive historic impacts for veterans and IAVA’s programs are second to none. Any veteran or family member in need can reach out to IAVA’s Quick Reaction Force at quickreactionforce.org or 855-91RAPID (855-917-2743) to be connected promptly with a veteran care manager who will assist. IAVA’s The Vote Hub is a free tool to register to vote and find polling information. IAVA’s membership is always growing. Join the movement at iava.org/membership.
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