News & Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2026
MEDIA CONTACTS
IRAP | media@refugeerights.org
#AfghanEvac | press@afghanevac.org
ANAR | media@projectanar.org
CWS | media@cwsglobal.org
FIVE YEARS SINCE WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN, LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES CALL FOR PROTECTING AFGHAN REFUGEES
Access a recording of the press call HERE
(Washington, D.C.) — On a press call held today, advocates, legal experts, and lawmakers discussed the status of Afghan refugees five years after the United States military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Speakers addressed the closing of legal pathways to safety for Afghans, as well as litigation and legislative efforts to protect this vulnerable population.
Key speaker quotes from the call are below and a recording is available HERE.
In order of appearance:
Shawn VanDiver, Founder/President, #AfghanEvac, said: “From 2021 to 2024, we built Enduring Welcome, the safest, most secure legal immigration pathway in history. On January 19, 2025, it was moving 5,000 Afghans a month, after extensive vetting, through 28 flights out of Kabul. And then the doors closed, beginning the first day of the new administration. Today it is not a crisis. It is a deliberate choice, grounded in policy this government has not had the courage to verbalize or brief. Every closed door has a signature on it.”
Don Bacon, U.S. Representative for Nebraska, said: “We have a moral obligation to those we served with in Afghanistan, who served by our side helping us out. We had a promise, and a promise made should be a promise kept… I served twice in Afghanistan, flying missions in the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel and then returning as a brigadier general. We’ve got the TPS bills, and what I think we need to do is discharge petitions, particularly for the Afghan one, to force a vote on the floor. I believe there are enough votes to pass it out of the House if we do this.”
Julie Johnson, U.S. Representative for Texas, said: “We celebrated those who risked their lives to take care of and help our troops fight that war and now our country is turning its back on them. It’s criminal, it’s wrong, and it’s just morally outrageous. I know many in Congress and across our country share those feelings… Who are we as a country? Are we going to celebrate the rich immigrant diversity that we are? Are we going to create a fair and fast immigration system that allows people to come to this country, contribute to our economy, and build a future for their family, and live in dignity and peace within the bounds of the law? Or are we just going to disregard the law and our values?”
Sean Jamshidi, Afghan-American U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said: “My brother and his family remain stuck at Camp As Sayliyah despite his Special Immigrant Visa being approved… My mother, her dying wish is to see her son before she goes… We’re trying to keep her healthy until my brother gets there… She misses my nieces and nephews who are also with my brother at Camp As Sayliyah. I want to continue shining a light on these crises so the American people can hear these stories and demand change. This is not a partisan issue, it’s an American obligation. Congress must pass bipartisan legislation that protects Afghan allies and reunites our families. Five years later, America must keep its promise. As a Marine, I understand what it means to keep your promise.”
Sharif Aly, President, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), said: “As we take stock of whether the U.S. has lived up to its obligations and promises to the Afghans who worked and served alongside American military personnel and partners, often at great personal risk, the answer is a resounding no… Afghan allies were there for the U.S. when we needed them. Whether in the U.S. or abroad, they need us now to ensure everyone has access to the safety they deserve.”
Laila Ayub, Co-Founder/Director, Project ANAR, said: “Our community has no choice but to remain resilient and help one another. Congress must similarly understand the obligation that the U.S. has towards offering protection and meaningful access to family reunification for Afghans, to end these discriminatory bans and restore access to protection, and to push back on the administration’s agenda to instill fear in our communities.”
Danilo Zak, Director of Policy, Church World Service (CWS), said: “Cutting food assistance, Medicaid, and other basic programs from Afghan refugees undercuts the path to self-sufficiency, and shifts costs to states and local communities. These provisions have left families and children hungrier and sicker, denying them the often-temporary help they need to rebuild their lives and establish themselves in their communities. Our work is grounded in the belief that every person should have food, voice, and a safe place to call home. Five years ago, we told Afghan families they would be safe here. Keeping that promise means more than a flight out of Kabul. It means those who have resettled can feed their children and see a doctor in the country that asked for their help.”
Additional Resources
- Access the press kit: HERE
- Listen to a recording of the call: HERE
- Read IRAP’s explainer about policies targeting Afghan allies: HERE
- Read about IRAP’s court victory on behalf of separated Afghan families: HERE
- Read #AfghanEvac’s new reports: The Unfinished Mission | The Allied Ledger | Protection Promised
- Visit #AfghanEvac’s policy page: HERE
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.
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