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Feb 9, 2026

Federal Court Rules Government Must Process Visa Applications of Afghan Allies

On Friday, a federal court issued a decision in the class action lawsuit Afghan & Iraqi Allies v, Rubio ordering the Trump administration to abide by a plan to adjudicate SIV applications in a timely manner. While President Trump’s expanded travel ban continues to prevent all Afghan nationals from entering the United States, the judge ruled the processing of COM applications must resume immediately for members of the class.

Press Release

Jul 14, 2025

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Will Have Devastating Consequences for Refugees

Anna MacLennan, IRAP's 2025 Policy and Communications Intern, highlights how refugees help sustain public benefits for ALL Americans, and how President Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" undermines fundamental promises of protection.

Blog Post

Jul 3, 2025

“Broken Priorities”: IRAP Decries Expansion of Anti-Immigrant Agenda Under Reconciliation Bill

Today, the House of Representatives narrowly passed a reconciliation bill 218-214 that amounts to an all-out assault on immigrant communities. The bill vastly expands funding for detention and deportation, while excluding refugees from critical health care and food assistance programs.

Press Release

Mar 20, 2025

Law School Chapters Across the United States Advocate for Protections and Humanitarian Commitments for Refugees

“We believe everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to

Blog Post

Jan 23, 2025

“Political Cowardice”: IRAP Denounces Passage of Laken Riley Act

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the amended Senate version of the Laken Riley Act. All House Republicans and 46 House Democrats voted for the bill, which received support from all Senate Republicans and 12 Senate Democrats. The anti-immigrant legislation is expected to be the first bill to be signed into law since President Trump’s inauguration. 

Press Release

Oct 10, 2024

Afghan Allies Sue State Department Over Boilerplate SIV Eligibility Denials

Yesterday, five Afghan nationals and the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) sued the State Department for denying Chief of Mission (COM) applications—the crucial first step in obtaining a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for Afghan allies—without the written explanation required by law.

Press Release

Jun 28, 2024

New Lawsuit: Children of Afghan Allies Should Be Eligible for SIVs

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the U.S. government's attempt to avoid accountability in Afghan & Iraqi Allies v. Blinken, a class action lawsuit challenging the U.S. government's failure to adjudicate Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications in a timely manner. The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP represent a class of Afghan and Iraqi nationals who worked for the United States’ missions in their home countries and have SIV applications pending longer than the congressionally-prescribed nine month timeline.

Press Release

Jun 12, 2024

SIV Victory: Court of Appeals Rejects U.S. Government’s Attempt to Abandon Afghan and Iraqi Allies

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the U.S. government's attempt to avoid accountability in Afghan & Iraqi Allies v. Blinken, a class action lawsuit challenging the U.S. government's failure to adjudicate Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applications in a timely manner. The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP represent a class of Afghan and Iraqi nationals who worked for the United States’ missions in their home countries and have SIV applications pending longer than the congressionally-prescribed nine month timeline.

Press Release

May 23, 2024

IRAP Urges a “No” Vote on Deeply Harmful Senate Border Legislation

At a time when politicians like former president Trump are threatening mass deportations and other authoritarian crackdowns on immigration, it is imperative for policymakers to provide meaningful alternatives to this hateful rhetoric rather than adopt it as their own. Americans want legal pathways and sustainable, humane solutions to the border – not more cruelty. While the bill is likely to fail, today’s vote will become the perilous starting point for future legislative debates.

Press Release

Apr 29, 2024

Letter from 100+ Refugee and Human Rights Organizations to U.S. Government: Withholding Funding to UNRWA a “Moral and Strategic Failure”

In a new letter sent today, more than 100 organizations call for “Congress to urgently introduce and pass legislation and for the President to support reinstating funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).” The organizations write that, “[f]ailing to do so would be a moral stain on this Administration and Congress’s legacy.” As the letter details, “the situation in Gaza is extraordinarily dire, and the need to ensure civilian protection and humanitarian relief is crucial … Cutting off funding to UNRWA completely erodes the international community’s ability to respond to one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time.”

Press Release

Mar 20, 2024

IRAP Applauds Congressional Action to Extend SIV Program

Yesterday, Congressional negotiators confirmed that a bipartisan funding bill will authorize 12,000 additional Afghan Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and extend the program through 2026. Without action, the number of authorized Special Immigrant Visas would run out before the end of the year, leaving hundreds of thousands of Afghan allies and their families with no pathway to safety.

Press Release

Nov 2, 2023

IRAP Calls for Immediate Halt to Forced Removals of Afghans from Pakistan

The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) condemns the government of Pakistan’s forcible return of Afghan refugees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This campaign of deportation and intimidation violates international law and endangers the lives of countless refugees, including IRAP’s clients.

Press Release