Afghan refugees arriving in Washtenaw County

Resettlement agencies and legal services describe the challenges facing refugees.

by ELINOR EPPERSON
Contributor

It has been months since the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan crowded headlines and social media posts, but for thousands of refugees, the story is just beginning. Former Afghan nationals are moving into new cities and neighborhoods across the United States with the help of the U.S. government and local nonprofits. 

“They’re going to need some extra support,” says Devon Meier, chief development director at Jewish Family Services. JFS is the only resettlement agency in Washtenaw County. The agency works with the Department of State to provide housing and financial support for newly arrived refugees until they can receive Social Security cards, find employment and apply for permanent residence (also known as a green card). 

About 1,300 refugees are expected to come to Michigan–so far. Since Michigan was one of the top states for refugee resettlement in the past ten years, that number could go up. An estimated 120,000 people evacuated from Afghanistan in August, with more trickling through after the Taliban seized power. 

JFS learned of the need to resettle refugees in late August, not long before the last planes left Kabul. They have agreed to house 300 people, understanding that the number could increase, and this does not include 500 refugees from other countries that JFS had already planned to resettle this fiscal year, which started in October.  

Meier says JFS employees and volunteers have been working “diligently, around the clock” to prepare for the influx of refugees en route. So far, 180 people have arrived in Washtenaw County in need of housing. Meier says that several refugees arrive with nothing more than “a grocery bag’s worth” of possessions. 

After leaving Afghanistan, evacuees stay on a U.S. military base while the U.S. government vets them. Refugees are tested for and vaccinated against COVID-19; they also receive any vaccines required to enter the U.S. Once they have completed the vetting process, they are assigned to a resettlement agency and leave for their new home. 

Meier describes a “gap” between when refugees arrive in the states and when they receive their Social Security numbers, which qualify them for a host of benefits. This “waiting game” presents another challenge for refugees and resettlement agencies: Newly arrived individuals are in a “holding pattern” where they cannot apply for employment or benefits but are still responsible for living costs. Because of this, JFS is focused on two challenges: Safe, affordable housing and funding. 

JFS provides fully furnished residences, including pantries filled with culturally appropriate food. Meier says JFS is unique among resettlement agencies because it provides a variety of other services under their auxiliary programs, such as transportation, senior services, and counseling. These benefits are invaluable for Afghan refugees, as many will not qualify for the same benefits as other refugees because of their immigration status. 

While some refugees entering the U.S. from Afghanistan arrive with special immigrant visas, most will start resettlement as humanitarian parolees. The Department of State grants “humanitarian parole” status to those who have started the asylum process but cannot finish it in their country of origin. Parolees usually have one year to apply for legal residency in the United States, but the U.S. government has extended the grace period for Afghan parolees to two years. 

“It’s not clear what happens” after those two years are up, says Ruby Robinson, a managing attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Coalition. MIRC provides legal services and resources to immigrants in Michigan, including refugees. 

These legal services are already stretched thin across the country, Robinson says. The pandemic hasn’t helped; the Department of State and private agencies that assist immigrants are experiencing the same capacity issues as everyone else. There are fewer appointments available and fewer staff processing applications. 

“There is a lot of paperwork involved” in the “complicated, detailed process” of seeking legal residency in the United States, Robinson says. In a press release from October, MIRC pointed out that required paperwork for refugees includes dozens of pages of instructions. The process itself can be an obstacle for individuals who may already be battling language and cultural barriers. 

MIRC hopes Congress will pass an adjustment act for Afghan refugees, similar to the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966. This legislation allows Cuban immigrants to apply for permanent residence after living in the U.S. for two years. Most of these immigrants came to the U.S. en masse after the Cuban Revolution in 1959, but the CAA still applies today. 

Afghan refugees cite a “constellation of reasons” for seeking asylum in the United States, says Robinson. Many are “directly or tangentially connected” to the U.S. or a U.S. ally, such as having worked for the U.S. government. They could have family members in the U.S, and they could be survivors of domestic violence who have no state protection in Afghanistan. Or they could be members of civil society who are outspoken against the Taliban and fear for their safety under the new regime. 

Meier says that while many of those who worked with the U.S. government could evacuate their entire families, some had to leave loved ones behind. Refugees range from single individuals to families of 10, and half of the incoming refugees are children.

Resettlement agencies “stepped up in a heartbeat” to support this “vulnerable and resilient population,” says Robinson. JFS moved 10 families into apartments last week. The organization most needs furniture donations, grocery store gift cards, and volunteers to move furniture. 

Meier is hopeful. “Washtenaw County is a welcoming community,” she says. “We feel strongly that this is a place you can come and start anew.” 

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