HR 4895119th CongressIn Committee

Afghan Adjustment Act

Introduced: Aug 5, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1] (R-Iowa)

Immigration

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Afghan Adjustment Act would create new, parallel pathways for certain Afghan nationals to gain lawful status in the United States and to streamline refugee processes for at-risk Afghan allies. The bill establishes a mechanism to grant conditional permanent resident status to eligible Afghans already in the United States (or who were previously admitted or paroled) and provides a process for removing those conditions over time, with waivers available for certain grounds of inadmissibility. It also expands and reorganizes refugee processing for Afghan allies outside the United States, creating a formal Afghan ally refugee referral system and allowing for remote processing to expedite admissions. Across both tracks, the bill emphasizes increased interagency coordination, enhanced vetting, nonadversarial support services, and explicit protections on fees and deadlines. In short, the bill aims to (1) create a pathway to permanent residence for eligible Afghans connected to the U.S. mission, (2) formalize and accelerate refugee processing for at-risk Afghan allies, and (3) strengthen oversight, efficiency, and interagency coordination of Afghan-related immigration processes.

Key Points

1Conditional permanent resident pathway for eligible Afghans
2- Eligible individuals in the U.S. who are Afghan nationals (or last resided in Afghanistan) and meet specified presence and admissibility criteria may be adjusted to conditional permanent residence, with a record of admission dated to the initial inspection/parole date or July 30, 2021 (whichever is later).
3- Conditions can be removed after up to four years (or by July 1, 2027, whichever is earlier), with waivers allowed for humanitarian or family unity reasons, and subject to certain inadmissibility grounds and case-by-case determinations.
4- While conditional, individuals are treated as having permanent residence for most purposes, including eligibility to apply for benefits and for naturalization in a pathway aligning with removal of conditions.
5- No government fees may be charged for initial status documents or work permits related to this status.
6Support and protections during adjustment
7- Periodic nonadversarial meetings (with access to benefits guidance and translation/interpretation) and a process to notify individuals about requirements.
8- Access to representation during the process, with no obligation on the government to pay for representation.
9- Provisions to help families (including parents/guardians of unaccompanied children) obtain conditional status in certain cases.
10- Administrative guidance to ensure processing is efficient and that applicants understand requirements.
11Afghan allies refugee pathway and processing modernization
12- Afghan allies would be designated as refugees of special humanitarian concern under a defined window, with a long-stop timeline (later of 10 years or a national-interest determination).
13- Remote processing and a secure online portal to apply and transfer data/biometrics between agencies, reducing the need for in-country interviews where feasible.
14- A structured Afghan Ally Referral Program, allowing DoD and other agencies to classify and refer Afghan allies to U.S. refugee programs with a standardized review, documentation, and biometrics handling.
15- Clear procedures for denials, appeals, and potential reopenings, and prohibitions on charging fees related to refugee referrals.
16Oversight, efficiency, and interagency coordination
17- Expanded biometric acceptance to include additional sources and actors under careful safeguards to protect identity and integrity.
18- An Interagency Task Force on Afghan Ally Strategy to develop and oversee resettlement strategies, with a designated chair (the Secretary of State) and representation from key agencies; requires a report and briefing to Congress.
19- Monthly reporting enhancements and resources to support refugee processing and special immigrant pathways.
20- Provisions to ensure refugees and Afghan allies receive timely processing, with emphasis on eliminating unnecessary delays.
21Legislative and procedural scope
22- Broad definitions to clarify who counts as an “Afghan ally,” what constitutes “special immigrant status,” and what constitutes a “specified application.”
23- Integration with existing Afghan-related protections and the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, while adding new adjustment and refugee processes.
24- No numerical caps for the Afghan allies or their immediate family members applying under these provisions, and no impact on other immigration quotas for spouses/children where specified.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Afghan nationals in the United States who meet the eligibility criteria for conditional permanent resident status, and Afghan allies (security/defense personnel and other personnel) eligible for refugee processing.Secondary group/area affected- Family members (spouses and children) of eligible Afghans seeking to join them, potentially through exemptions from numerical limits for certain family-based classifications.- Agencies involved in immigration processing (Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, and intelligence offices) due to new interagency task force, streamlined processing, and expanded vetting.Additional impacts- Funding and resource considerations for the executive branch to implement new status pathways, remote processing capabilities, and increased staffing for vetting and refugee operations.- Potential changes to asylum adjudication timelines and eligibility considerations for Afghans under the new pathways, while preserving access to asylum under existing law.- Increased oversight and reporting to Congress on Afghan ally resettlement and refugee processing, including quarterly or monthly data on arrivals and processing efficiency.

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