Blumenthal & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Wartime Afghan Allies

[Hartford, CT] – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined colleagues in introducing the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act. This bipartisan legislation would provide a clear pathway for wartime Afghan allies who were evacuated by the U.S. government during the 2021 withdrawal to receive lasting protection in the United States. Yesterday, Blumenthal visited Zia S., an Afghan interpreter residing in Connecticut who was arrested by masked ICE Agents after a routine biometrics appointment for his Green Card.

“Our Afghan allies who aided and protected our troops during the conflict in Afghanistan deserve our unwavering protection. Unfortunately, this Administration is punishing and persecuting law-abiding wartime allies like Zia, an Afghan interpreter who was detained by ICE at his routine biometric appointment in Connecticut. A clear pathway to permanent legal status is long overdue for these allies who put their lives on the line for our service members. I’ll continue to fight for Zia, along with the rest of our allies, and passing this bipartisan legislation is a critical step,” said Blumenthal.

Zia worked as a translator and cultural advisor contractor for American forces at Camp Mike Spann in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. His youngest brother was also an interpreter, marking their family as pro-American and a target of violent retaliation by the Taliban. Zia has no criminal history and traveled to the United States using an approved humanitarian parole visa and travel documents issued by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan. He has received Chief of Mission approval in his Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) case and has a pending Green Card application. On July 16, he was seized by masked ICE agents outside a USCIS service center in East Hartford, Connecticut, where he had his biometrics taken as the first step in the processing of his Green Card application.

Currently, Afghans who were admitted into the United States with humanitarian parole, a temporary status, can only gain permanent legal residency through the asylum system or the Special Immigrant Visa process, which face severe backlogs and long processing times. Providing a pathway for Afghan allies to apply for legal permanent residency, following additional vetting, will help provide more certainty as they build their lives in the United States.

The legislation was led by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Mike Rounds (R-SD).

This legislation is endorsed by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), AMVETS, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, With Honor Action, No One Left Behind, #AfghanEvac, and the Evacuate Our Allies Coalition.

"For nearly two decades, our Afghan allies stood shoulder to shoulder with our troops. They fought for the ideals of democracy and the promise that is America. 72% of IAVA members believe we must do more to keep our promise to our allies. Countless of them stepped up to help Afghan refugees during the withdrawal because we know what loyalty means. IAVA fully supports this legislation and we thank Senators Klobuchar and Murkowski for leading the charge to do right by those who risked everything for our shared mission,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

"AMVETS proudly supports the Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act as a critical step toward upholding our nation’s commitments to those who bravely stood beside American service members. Many of these individuals risked their lives to support U.S. missions in combat, intelligence, and humanitarian operations, and they continue to face grave danger as a result. This overdue legislation strengthens security through enhanced vetting while providing a clear, lawful pathway to protection for our Afghan allies,” said AMVETS National Executive Director, Joe Chenelly.

“As a light infantry commander in Afghanistan, my interpreter was like a second company commander. I leaned on him for much more than language translation, and he served the U.S. as faithfully and loyally as any U.S. soldier. Thankfully, he made it to safety, but far too many of our closest allies remain in danger abroad or without a pathway to standardized vetting and permanent legal status in the United States,” said Andrew Sullivan, Executive Director of No One Left Behind. “This legislation is a necessary, veterans-led priority to secure our Afghan allies who face targeted retribution for their service to the U.S. missions in Afghanistan.”

“The United States has a moral obligation to support the Afghans who risked their lives to aid and protect our service members and diplomats during America’s longest war. The Fulfilling Promises to Afghan Allies Act is a vital step to keep our word, strengthen national security, and uphold the values that define us as a nation," said Rye Barcott, Co-Founder and CEO of With Honor Action. "We are grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Murkowski for their bipartisan leadership on this critical effort to protect our wartime allies and honor America's promise.”

“We made a promise. To the Afghan men and women who stood beside us, it wasn’t just a matter of policy — it was a matter of honor. This bill is a critical step in keeping that promise, and I’m grateful to see leaders from both parties standing united to do just that. Now let’s get it passed and signed,” said Shawn VanDiver, President, #AfghanEvac.

Full text of the bill can be found here.

-30-