More than 2,000 Afghan refugees have arrived in Colorado, with more expected through summer

More than 2,000 Afghans arrived in Colorado since troops left Afghanistan in August, but administrative backlogs and other barriers are making it difficult for families to reunite with relatives still overseas or to get permanent residency in the U.S.

Between September and February, 2,067 Afghans made it to Colorado, with another 150-200 expected this spring and summer, according to refugee resettlement groups. U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a Democrat who lives in Centennial, has been advocating with other members for the “Afghan Adjustment Act.”

At a virtual event Monday hosted by the Truman National Security Project, moderator Anna Hanel of the African Community Center noted that many of the Afghans who were able to evacuate and come to Colorado were granted temporary parole status for two years until they can apply for special immigrant visas or asylum. The latter, however, is more complicated because many of the documents needed for asylum requests were destroyed.

Additionally, backlogs are causing delays, and in the meantime, families are split between Colorado and Kabul and can’t apply to be reunified before their residency status changes. The Afghan Adjustment Act, if passed, could provide a more clear pathway to getting green cards and permanent residency, Hanel said, which the U.S. has previously done for Cuban and Vietnamese refugees.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/more-than-2-000-afghan-refugees-have-arrived-in-colorado-with-more-expected-through-summer/ar-AAXDmfg