The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Trump administration and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reverse their decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan and urged Congress to pass legislation establishing a clear pathway to citizenship for Afghan nationals currently residing in the United States.
In May, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that TPS for Afghanistan will expire on May 20, 2025, with termination effective July 14, 2025. This decision threatens to displace over 11,000 Afghan refugees, including women, children, and vulnerable individuals who would be forced to return to a country facing widespread insecurity, economic collapse, and a lack of basic services.
Following the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal, thousands of Afghans were evacuated to the United States through Operation Allies Welcome. Many were U.S. allies, including interpreters, human rights defenders, journalists, and members of vulnerable minority groups. According to the United Nations Security Council, Afghanistan remains one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“These are individuals and families who fled war and economic collapse, many of whom supported the prior government of Afghanistan. Forcing them back would be a betrayal of our moral and national obligations. With the expiration of TPS and no permanent status, Afghan families are stuck in legal limbo. The administration should immediately reconsider its decision to terminate TPS, and Congress must finally pass legislation offering these families a permanent, dignified path to citizenship.”
CAIR has consistently supported the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bipartisan proposal introduced in both 2022 and 2023 to provide a lawful pathway to permanent residency for Afghan evacuees.
CAIR also reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for humane and just immigration policies that protect the rights and dignity of all people, including Dreamers, TPS holders, and other vulnerable immigrant communities.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com