Part 4 – Immigration Uncertainties
Paperwork and policies shape daily life for many newcomers. Afghan families often find themselves waiting for answers about visas or residency, while continuing to contribute to their communities. These moments of waiting are balanced by steady efforts to build secure futures.
While many Afghans have legal rights to live in the U.S., there have been some concerns within the community due to the Trump administration stripping away rights that are valuable to the Afghan community.
The halting of USRAP also prevents Afghans from being able to reconnect with their families. While some Afghans were permitted to live in the U.S., some of their family members are still awaiting to be permitted. Some of these family members are either still in Afghanistan or located in another country that might deport them soon.
Rabbaa recalled how one of her clients was trying to get his elderly parents, who were refugees living in Pakistan into the U.S. They were scheduled to come in February, but were not able to due to USRAP being halted, and are now facing deportation back to Afghanistan.
“Everyone's travel was canceled so they could not come,” said Rabbaa. “People are stuck in Pakistan, Iran, or other countries like Qatar. Why can we not at least separate Afghans when we are talking about basically a refugee ban? These are people who fought alongside the U.S.”
In more recent months, the Trump administration has continued to strip some of the legal avenues for Afghans to be permitted into the U.S. In May, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it would be terminating the temporary protected status (TPS) for Afghanistan, which allowed Afghans to enter the U.S.
TPS is reserved for certain immigrant nationals who cannot return to their country due to special circumstances such as civil war, disasters or extraordinary conditions. It was granted to Afghan refugees by the Biden administration in 2022 and allowed Afghans to stay within the country without a visa or permanent immigration status. Through TPS, Afghans were then able to apply for asylum or parole, which can then lead to them applying for a green card. Approximately 11,000 Afghans used TPS, and the termination will go into effect on July 14.
According to Secretary of DHS, Kristi Noem, Afghanistan no longer meets the requirements for a TPS designation.
“Afghanistan has had an improved security situation, and its stabilizing economy no longer prevents them from returning to their home country,” said Noem.
Despite this statement, many Afghan refugees fear deportation back to Afghanistan will result in persecution from the Taliban due to religion, ethnicity, political beliefs and gender.
According to Mana Aliabadi, an immigration lawyer at Palladino, Isbell & Casazza, LLC, the termination of TPS will likely only affect a small number of Afghans.
“The reason for that is most of these people should or have applied for asylum already,” said Aliabadi.”There's people that fell through the cracks, that didn't get legal assistance or didn't know what they had to do. But if any Afghan has not applied, or has TPS and did not apply for anything long term, they should really start thinking about doing that, and they still have the opportunity to do so.”
Mana Aliabadi, an immigration attorney at Palladino, Isbell & Casazza, LLC. Photo shared by Mana.
Immigrants who are applying for asylum cannot legally be deported until their application has been decided. Those applying for green cards can be deported, but can request a continuance, which is a temporary pause in removal proceedings until the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) makes a decision on the green card application.
For Ahmad (Nickname), an Afghan refugee whose identity will remain anonymous, awaiting for immigration documentation can be stressful. Ahmad applied for a green card in November 2024, but has yet to receive it. His daughter, currently in the U.S. on a two-year visa, may not be eligible to apply for permanent residency, and that uncertainty weighs on him.
“There are some concerns,” said Ahmad, “but my main concern is the green card.
Aliabadi also urged Afghans who are facing legal issues to seek out an immigration lawyer.
“The legal services programs that were available for them to get free access to attorneys and pro bono counsel… that stuff is probably much more difficult to get now, so then that will affect their access to counsel. Access to counsel is one of the most important things, especially for immigrants. So, I think that can be an issue.”
Additionally, a travel ban was enacted on June 9 for the nationals of 12 countries, including Afghanistan. According to Aliabadi, it is still unclear how exactly this ban might affect Afghan immigrants within the U.S.
Despite these challenges, Afghan families work hard to preserve their culture and maintain a sense of home… [Read Part 5 →]