National Security Leader and Afghanistan Veteran Calls on Congress to Pass Afghan Adjustment Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Roberto Estrada Lobo 
restrada@monumentadvocacy.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Council on National Security and Immigration (CNSI) leader Rick “Ozzie” Nelson today released a statement urging Congress to pass the Afghan Adjustment Act, which was reintroduced in the House and Senate by a group of bipartisan legislators.  

“The Afghan Adjustment Act is a critical national security measure,” Nelson said. “The bill would require DHS to establish additional, more rigorous vetting procedures for applicants, making the immigration process for our Afghan allies the most stringent in modern history. These steps and other associated protections make this process the new ‘gold standard’ for vetting individuals. It ensures the pre-eminence of our national security while allowing us to work to provide safety and certainty to deserving Afghan friends and partners who have fled the Taliban.

“For the past two years, we have provided our Afghan allies nothing but uncertainty by bringing them to the United States but failing to afford them long-term protections. It is time the U.S. uphold our side of the promise and grant a pathway to permanent status to those who selflessly fought alongside our servicemembers to defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban, as well as vetted others we evacuated to safety. The Afghan Adjustment Act will provide Afghan evacuees who are already in the United States an avenue to achieve lawful permanent status, helping ensure their full integration.

“Our national security depends on allies knowing we honor our promises and take care of those who fight with us. By passing the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, Congress can provide certainty to Afghans now living in America and send a clear message to our partners around the world that we do not abandon our friends.”

###