Some of our Afghan neighbors received this notice (shown below) late last week directing them to self-deport within 7 days. This is an impossibly short timeline for anyone, especially for those being told to return to a country where they may face immediate danger and retribution.
Many of these individuals served alongside the U.S. government and military, having been promised safety and protection for their sacrifice.
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For our Afghan friends – the nonprofit organization AfghanEvac has provided the following up-to-date information:
“Here’s what you need to know:
Many of these notices are believed to be wrong, especially for people who came under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) If you got one of these notices: DO NOT leave the country without talking to an immigration attorney There has been no official policy change or legal filing—this is still unfolding
Go to afghanevac.org/resources for legal help Check your immigration status:
USCIS: https://egov.uscis.gov/Immigration Court: https://acis.eoir.justice.gov/en/DO NOT give legal advice to anyone who has received this message unless you’re an immigration attorney. This moment calls for clarity, compassion, and qualified counsel.”
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We are working quickly to gather trusted information and local resources to support our Afghan friends. We stand with you — you are not alone.
If you have connections to resources that may support our Afghan neighbors during this time, please contact Michele Suffridge at Michele@refugeehopepartners.org.
To support our ongoing work, please consider giving to our Our Neighbors, Our Calling campaign: https://refugeehopepartners.org/our-neighbors-our-calling/
