In August 2021, the Taliban, an ultraconservative Islamic political group, swiftly regained control of Afghanistan, ending nearly two decades of US-backed democratic rule. Their ascent to power in Kabul dashed the hopes of many Afghans who envisioned a future of tolerance, rights, and democratic governance. The Taliban’s resurgence spurred widespread fear and uncertainty, especially among women, activists, journalists, and those who had worked closely with US and NATO forces.
The Taliban’s return marked the culmination of years of unrest and conflict, yet the final chapter unfolded in rapid succession. Just days after US troops began their withdrawal, the situation in Afghanistan spiraled into chaos, with Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport becoming the epicenter of a mass exodus.
Images of the chaotic scenes at Kabul airport quickly became emblematic of the desperation felt by thousands of Afghans who were seeking a way out. They had reason to be fearful. The Taliban’s return brought with it an authoritarian crackdown on human rights, especially those of women and ethnic minorities, as well as the reinstatement of harsh religious laws.
For weeks, news broadcasts captured harrowing footage of families, children, and individuals clinging to the hope of escape. Amid the scramble, many Afghans who had supported US and NATO forces — as interpreters, drivers, or local employees — found themselves particularly vulnerable, fearful of retribution. It wasn’t just them. Thousands of others who opposed the Taliban regime or who had actively advocated for human rights, women’s rights, or democracy, found themselves racing to leave.
The US military, in its final days in Afghanistan, orchestrated one of the largest airlift operations in history. By the time the evacuation concluded, approximately 124,000 people had been airlifted out of Afghanistan. While this monumental effort saved many lives, it left behind even more unresolved questions about the future of the Afghan evacuees, particularly those who had made their way to the United States.
On August 29, 2021, the Biden administration announced that Afghans who were evacuated to the US could stay temporarily under a program called humanitarian parole. This program allows individuals from foreign countries to enter the US on an emergency basis, especially in cases of immediate danger or crisis. Unlike the established refugee program, which provides a pathway to permanent residency, humanitarian parole is a temporary measure, designed to provide urgent relief but not long-term solutions.
Approximately 70,000 Afghans were granted humanitarian parole following their arrival in the United States. Among them was Mina Bakhshi, a rock climber whose future was bleak under the Taliban’s gender-restrictive rule. Mina’s passion for sports and education made her a target in the new regime, but humanitarian parole allowed her to come to the US, where she now attends college and rebuilds her life.
Another evacuee, Qasim Rahimi, a journalist, fled Afghanistan with his family and eventually resettled in Kansas City, Missouri. Like many other Afghan parolees, Qasim now faces an uncertain future in the US, stuck in a legal limbo that complicates his pursuit of a stable, long-term existence.
Approximately one-third of the Afghan evacuees have settled in states like California, Texas, and Virginia. While their immediate physical safety has been ensured through humanitarian parole, the program leaves these evacuees in a vulnerable legal position. Though they can work and attend school in the US, they are neither permanent residents nor citizens. This lack of a permanent legal status means they often struggle with essential aspects of life, such as obtaining stable employment, securing long-term housing, or applying for Social Security numbers.
Humanitarian parole offers safety, but it also puts people in a state of uncertainty. The program must be renewed every two years, leaving Afghans unsure whether they will be able to stay in the country long enough to build new lives. Without a clear path to permanent residency, many Afghan families are left with questions about their future.
The United States has a long history of using humanitarian parole during times of conflict, particularly in situations where US forces were actively involved. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the US airlifted thousands of Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian refugees, offering them humanitarian parole. President Gerald Ford, in his address to Congress at the time, described it as a “profound moral obligation” to protect those who had supported the US war effort.
In the years that followed, Congress passed legislation allowing these refugees to adjust their legal status and permanently settle in the United States. Similar actions were taken in the 1950s for Hungarian and Cuban refugees fleeing communist regimes, and in more recent years, for Central American children and Haitian orphans escaping natural disasters or dire conditions in their home countries.
In 2022, the Biden administration once again invoked humanitarian parole, this time to admit more than 125,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war in their country. Yet, while Ukrainian evacuees have received significant attention and support, the fate of Afghan evacuees remains unresolved.
For Afghan evacuees, the key to securing their futures in the United States may lie in a proposed piece of legislation known as the Afghan Adjustment Act. Introduced by a bipartisan group in Congress, this act would allow Afghan parolees to apply for permanent legal status, providing them with a much-needed path to stability.
The Afghan Adjustment Act has garnered strong support from veterans’ organizations and refugee advocacy groups who argue that the US owes a moral debt to those Afghans who stood by US forces during the 20-year conflict. They point to historical precedents, like the laws passed in the wake of the Vietnam War, as examples of the US fulfilling its promises to those who risked their lives to support American military efforts.
However, the bill has faced opposition, particularly from some Republican lawmakers who have voiced concerns about national security. Led by Senator Chuck Grassley, this group argues that the vetting process for Afghan evacuees is insufficient, posing potential risks to the country. Grassley and his supporters have pushed for a more targeted program that would limit benefits to Afghans who directly worked with US military forces.
Additionally, Republican Senator Tom Cotton has introduced a separate bill aimed at reducing the president’s ability to use humanitarian parole as broadly as it was applied in Afghanistan. Cotton’s proposal would impose stricter limits on the program, making it harder for future administrations to offer temporary refuge to large numbers of people during international crises.
As the 2024 US presidential election looms, the future of Afghan evacuees hangs in the balance. Should Democratic candidate Kamala Harris win the presidency, it is likely that she would continue the policies of her predecessor, President Joe Biden, by renewing humanitarian parole for Afghan evacuees for at least two more years. This would provide temporary relief but still fall short of offering permanent solutions.
On the other hand, the potential election of Donald Trump raises different concerns. During his first term in office, Trump’s administration took a hardline stance on immigration, reducing refugee admissions and implementing a controversial travel ban that targeted Muslim-majority countries. On the campaign trail, Trump has signaled his intent to renew the Muslim travel ban and limit immigration further, casting doubt on whether he would be willing to support programs like the Afghan Adjustment Act.
In the meantime, the tens of thousands of Afghan evacuees living in the US remain in legal limbo, unsure of whether they will be allowed to stay or forced to leave. While some have managed to rebuild their lives, others continue to struggle with the uncertainties of their status.
The upcoming election may prove decisive. A congressional stalemate has left the Afghan Adjustment Act languishing, and until there is a clear resolution, Afghan evacuees remain in a state of limbo. The US faces a critical question of how it will respond to the needs of those who risked their lives to support its mission in Afghanistan.
