HR 4995119th CongressIn Committee

Enduring Welcome Act of 2025

Introduced: Aug 19, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-California)

Immigration

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Enduring Welcome Act of 2025 would codify and expand the responsibilities of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE). It places the CARE office within the Department of State and broadens its mandate to manage and coordinate the relocation and integration of Afghan nationals connected to U.S. military service, including those seeking special immigrant visas (SIVs), refugees, and related family members. Key duties include facilitating voluntary departures, interagency vetting and processing with DHS and DoD, organizing relocation logistics through resettlement centers and agencies, addressing family reunification barriers, and coordinating post-arrival integration and medical/trauma support. The bill also establishes a centralized, secure database to track applicants, beneficiaries, and relocated individuals, with regular congressional reporting. The act would sunset five years after enactment, unless extended by Congress.

Key Points

1Establishes an Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the Department of State and designates the office as the lead entity for coordinating Afghan relocation operations.
2Expands CARE responsibilities to include: voluntary departure support, interagency vetting and case processing, relocation logistics, family reunification efforts (including for active-duty servicemembers and veterans), integration support (trauma recovery and medical care), and centralized data management with transparency.
3Requires collection of detailed information on Afghan applicants, beneficiaries, and relocated individuals (e.g., admission routes, family reunification status, timeframes, denials/closures, and military/veteran-linked cases) and the creation of a secure, centralized database.
4Mandates periodic reporting to Congress on the status of metrics, with initial reporting 30 days after database establishment and then every 90 days; includes a notification provision about pending cases and remaining eligible populations.
5Defines “covered person” to include various categories of Afghan nationals and their family members who may be eligible for relocation or resettlement programs (SIV recipients, refugees, immediate relatives, and others connected to Afghan protection acts and related programs).
6Sets a sunset for the act: all authorities under this bill terminate five years after enactment, with related conforming amendments.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Afghan nationals seeking U.S. admission (SIV applicants, refugees, parolees) and their family members.- U.S. military personnel and veterans with family members affected by Afghan relocation and reunification processes.Secondary group/area affected:- U.S. government partners and agencies (State Department, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense) responsible for vetting, screening, and processing.- U.S.-based resettlement and support organizations, including resettlement centers and non-governmental agencies.Additional impacts:- Increased data collection and a centralized database could affect privacy, security, and oversight practices; potential budgetary and staffing needs for State and partner agencies; possible changes in timelines for processing and reunification due to expanded coordination and reporting requirements.- Enhanced congressional oversight through regular reporting on metrics and progress, which could influence policy adjustments and future legislative action.

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