New York, NY, August 30, 2022 — As the one-year evacuation anniversary in Afghanistan comes to a close with the final withdrawal of U.S. armed forces on August 30th of last year, the IRC reflects on the policy developments and processes undertaken by U.S. states to welcome and support Afghan evacuees. This groundswell of support, combined with projected economic contributions these newly arrived Afghans will make in their communities, shows why we should continue to empower new Afghan neighbors who are beginning to plan for their futures.
While Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) was a federally-led effort to process and resettle Afghans throughout the U.S., states led by both political parties also made significant contributions to welcome our new Afghan neighbors and affirm their commitment to Afghans seeking refuge. In total, thirty-five governors asserted their support for resettling Afghans in their states. Governors and state legislatures from New Jersey to Arizona acted in the forms of holistic state coordination, budget and resource support, and legislative measures.
Countries that put policies in place to welcome refugees also see social and economic benefits. New IRC data has revealed that Afghans in the U.S. could contribute nearly $200 million in taxes and $1.4 billion in earnings in their first year of employment alone. Refugees also fill critical gaps in the labor market and have high rates of entrepreneurship, contributing meaningfully as earners and taxpayers.
If bipartisan support and unity can happen at the state level, then it can also occur at the federal level by passing the Afghan Adjustment Act. We call on Members of Congress to fulfill America’s promise to take care of Afghans in the U.S., ahead of any new fiscal year budget discussions. This life-changing legislation will help Afghans rebuild their lives and plan for the future across U.S. communities, providing them with a pathway to lawful permanent status and eventual citizenship. Afghans who worked with the U.S. military kept Americans safe while in Afghanistan, and therefore Americans should want to keep Afghans safe while they are in the U.S.
JC Hendrickson, Senior Director of Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration Policy and Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee, said:
“States across the U.S. showed leadership and creativity in ensuring Afghans were welcomed, resourcing critical programs to bolster Afghan integration into U.S. communities on a bipartisan basis. At the same time, IRC research shows that our new Afghan neighbors are already set to make extraordinary economic contributions to the U.S. - America is investing in refugees, and refugees are investing in America.
“Now it’s Congress' turn. The U.S. government must keep the promise of safety made to those it chose to welcome and provide the opportunity to stay in the U.S.—for good. States have shown that where there is a bipartisan will, there is a way. The Afghan Adjustment Act, which would allow Afghans to apply for permanent residency, has been introduced in Congress on a bipartisan basis. It's time to pass it into law.”