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Afghan Placement and Assistance

The United States is evacuating Afghan Nationals who are undergoing processing for admission to the United States. The number of Afghan Nationals that will resettle in Arizona is currently unknown as the federal government continues to process evacuated Afghan Nationals and stand up emergency services for them. These Afghan Nationals will be granted one of two types of immigration statuses by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):

  • Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders
  • Humanitarian Parole

The Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program is working with community partners and local organizations to support Afghan Nationals as they resettle in Arizona. Afghan Nationals admitted as SIVs are eligible for the Refugee Resettlement Program and a variety of federally funded benefit programs, such as:

  • Cash Assistance
  • Medical Assistance
  • Employment Services
  • English Language Training

More information about these programs can be found on the Refugee Resettlement Program web page.

Afghan Nationals processed for Humanitarian Parole are currently eligible for most public benefit programs, including public cash assistance programs (Refugee Cash Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Cash Assistance), medical assistance (Refugee Medical Assistance or Medicaid - with some exceptions), and Supplemental Security Income. They are also currently eligible for the U.S. Department of State/Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Reception and Placement Program (APA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Refugee Resettlement-funded Programs, such as Matching Grant, Refugee Support Services, or Preferred Communities. Learn more about Benefits for Afghan Humanitarian Parolees.

The Federal Government has put in place a short-term Afghan Placement and Assistance Program (APA) that provides for basic needs from September 1, 2021 to March 31, 2023. Afghan Nationals granted Humanitarian Parole will be assisted with applying for employment authorization while at one of the military bases where they are being processed upon arrival into the United States. USCIS intends to expedite the adjudication of those applications, with the goal of ordering the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card before parolees depart to their final destination. Those who choose to leave the military bases prior to completion of this process and travel to the final destination of their own accord should be treated as walk-ins by the RA and will need assistance from the RA with filing form I-765 for employment authorization.

APA provides a per capita amount of $2,275 that includes $1,225 for direct assistance and $1,050 for administrative costs. Initial relocation support services under the APA will be broadly similar to the core services provided under R&P, including but not limited to: airport reception as applicable, safe and appropriate housing, adequate food supplies, seasonal clothing as needed, pocket money for each adult, material needs support, assistance in accessing health services as possible, assistance with enrollment in services appropriate to their personal circumstances as eligible, assistance with enrollment in school for school-aged minors, cultural orientation, and assistance with accessing legal services to apply for adjustment of status. Support services are encouraged to be provided with appropriate language interpretation to the extent possible by an individual who is not associated with the Afghan National and that promotes gender equality.

As the APA program is only meant to provide services for 30 to 90 days, for further support, Congress passed the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act (ASA). The ASA funding is intended to provide support for traditional services provided under Refugee Support Services (RSS) base funding, but may also be used, when necessary, to support emergency/short-term and long-term housing for Afghan arrivals as a critical component in resettlement stability, self-sufficiency, and integration. These traditional services include but are not limited to case management, employment services, English Language Training, vocational training, and skill recertification. If all traditional services are being provided, ASA funds can also be used for legal assistance and food assistance for this population.

Submitting Questions About Afghan Nationals

Please email [email protected] to submit questions about the Afghan Nationals arriving in Arizona.

Refugee Resettlement Agencies

When Afghan Nationals first arrive in Arizona, they are welcomed by local non-profit Refugee Resettlement Agencies (RA) that provide basic needs APA support that became effective, September 1, 2021 to support them with their transition to life in the U.S. The RAs provide essential services,  as listed above, for which they may be eligible, during their first 30 to 90 days.

Contact Information

Should you be interested in providing support to individuals who arrive from Afghanistan, please contact one of the RA partners or complete the general VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who are the Afghan Nationals?

    On August 29, 2021, President Biden directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to lead implementation of ongoing efforts across the federal government to support vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked alongside the United States Government in Afghanistan for the past two decades, as they safely resettle in the United States. These coordinated efforts are known as Operation Allies Welcome. At the President’s direction, the Secretary of Homeland Security is working with representatives from across the government to coordinate the United States response and ensure unity of effort across the federal government.

    At the President’s direction, DHS has established a Unified Coordination Group (UCG) to coordinate efforts under Operation Allies Welcome. The UCG reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security and is coordinating the implementation of a broad range of services, including initial immigration processing. This support includes initial processing of Afghan Nationals at predesignated U.S. military bases prior to being connected with RAs Agencies for placement into communities. The work of the UCG is being undertaken in close collaboration with partners in state and local government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

  2. Where can I get more information about the U.S. Government’s response to rescuing/resettling Afghan Nationals?

    Information is available on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website at https://www.dhs.gov/allieswelcome.

  3. Who is responsible for vetting Afghan Nationals that arrive in the United States?

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the lead federal agency responsible for supporting Afghan Nationals to safely resettle in the United States. DHS, including its U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Secret Service are conducting processing, screening, and vetting in coordination with the U.S. Departments of Defense and State and other federal agencies. The goal of this effort is to bring Afghan Nationals who worked for the United States, as well as other vulnerable Afghans, to the United States.

    The screening and vetting process involves biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and additional Intelligence Community (IC) partners. The U.S. government has worked with urgency and care to enhance screening and vetting operations to make them more efficient without compromising national security.

  4. What does the “Special Immigration Visa” immigration status mean? 

    Afghans who have completed the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process and their dependents will be assisted by the U.S. Department of State and non-governmental organizations to begin their resettlement process. Those individuals who have not finished the SIV application process are granted Humanitarian Parole by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security while their SIV applications are adjudicated or while it is determined whether they will need to apply for another immigration status through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Individuals are granted Humanitarian Parole on a case-by-case basis and are eligible to apply for employment authorization.

    SIVs are eligible for the Refugee Resettlement Program and a variety of federally funded benefit programs, such as:

    • Cash Assistance
    • Medical Assistance
    • Employment Services
    • English Language Training
       
  5. What does the “Humanitarian Parole” immigration status mean?

    Most Afghan nationals will be paroled into the United States on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons. This permits certain Afghan nationals to come into the United States on a case-by-case basis for a period of two years and subsequent to appropriate screening and vetting, provided their movement to the United States is being carried out pursuant to the current operation. Once paroled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Afghan nationals may be eligible to apply for immigration status through USCIS. Afghan nationals paroled by CBP will also have conditions placed on their parole to include medical screening and vaccination requirements, and other reporting requirements. Failure to follow these conditions may be cause for denial of work authorization and potentially termination of the parole and initiation of detention and removal.

    Afghan nationals with Humanitarian Parole status are currently not eligible for most public benefit programs, including public cash assistance programs (Refugee Cash Assistance or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families), medical assistance (Refugee Medical Assistance or Medicaid - with some exceptions), and Supplemental Security Income; nor are they currently eligible for the U.S. Department of State/Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration Reception and Placement Program (R&P) or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Office of Refugee Resettlement-funded Programs, such as Matching Grant, Refugee Support Services, or Preferred Communities.

  6. How can I help welcome and support Afghan Nationals arriving in Arizona?
    All RAs accept monetary donations, in-kind services, and donations of specific items like diapers and other personal care items, for example, needed to assist with resettlement and operations. Some RAs also have volunteer opportunities to befriend arrivals and assist with operations related to refugee resettlement based on need.

    Arizona Refugee Resettlement Agency Contact Information
    Catholic Charities, Community Services
    Phoenix - (602) 997-6105
    Tucson - (520) 623-0344
    Help Refugees through Catholic Charities

    International Rescue Committee
    Phoenix - (602) 433-2440
    Tucson - (520) 319-2128
    Help Refugees through the International Rescue Committee

    Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
    Phoenix - (602) 248-4400 ext. 114
    Tucson - (520) 396-3795
    Help Refugees through Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest

    Arizona Immigrant & Refugee Services
    Phoenix - (602) 944-1821
    Help Refugees through Arizona Immigrant & Refugee Services

     
    Should you be interested in providing support to individuals who arrive from Afghanistan, please contact one of the RA partners or complete the general VOLUNTEER INTEREST FORM.

  7. If I have family members still in Afghanistan, where do I go for information and guidance?
    For inquiries and information about helping family and friends in Afghanistan, please visit the U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/afghanistan-inquiries/.
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