The Disappearing Promise: How the U.S. Is Failing Afghan Allies

For decades, Afghan interpreters, contractors, and other allies risked their lives to support American forces. After the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the government pledged to provide safety and legal pathways for these individuals and their families. While some have successfully relocated, thousands remain stranded in dangerous conditions despite following the rules set out for them.

The Broken Commitments to Afghan Allies

The US government made promises to interpreters, contractors, and their families in Afghanistan. Today, those promises remain largely unfulfilled.

• SIV still exists, but the backlog is massive. Tens of thousands of Afghan applicants are still waiting, many for years, while exposed to ongoing threats.
• Processing is painfully slow and often inconsistent. Even with priority status, it can take two to four years or more to complete the full SIV process – time that many families don’t have.
• The CARE office has been quietly dismantled. Originally designed to streamline relocation efforts, the CARE office has been folded into the Afghanistan Affairs Office and the Enduring Welcome program has been shuttered, making it harder to route applicants through centralized help.
• Humanitarian parole has narrowed sharply. After the initial 2021 surge, most new Afghan parole applications have been denied or left in limbo.
• Legal pathways are confusing and scattered. For many families, even those in the U.S., there’s no clear route to help their loved ones escape or reunite.

What Is the CARE Program?

When Kabul fell, tens of thousands of Afghan lives were put into jeopardy, and many attempted to reach safety in the US. Some were aiming to be reunited with family members (including American servicemembers), fleeing religious persecution as Christians or other minority groups, or were being directly targeted by the Taliban in response to their aid to the US military.

The Coordinated Afghan Relocation Effort (CARE) was established to centralize relocation support for Afghan allies. It acted as a hub for routing applicants, tracking cases, and providing information to those navigating complex U.S. immigration channels. In recent years, CARE has been folded into the Afghanistan Affairs Office, and its Enduring Welcome program was closed. The Trump Administration also included Afghanistan on its list for the June 2025 travel ban, creating more barriers to entry for Afghan nationals, although SIV holders are exempted.

What Is a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV)?

Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) offer a pathway to lawful permanent residency in the United States for certain Afghan and Iraqi nationals. The program remains active, but it faces serious challenges.

To qualify for an SIV, an applicant must:

• Be a national of Iraq or Afghanistan.
• Have worked directly with the U.S. Armed Forces, been employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government, or served with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF)/Resolute Support (RS) or COM Authority for at least 12 months between October 7, 2001, and December 31, 2024.
• Provide a written recommendation from a direct supervisor, a General or Flag Officer in the applicant’s chain of command, or a Chief of Mission from the U.S. embassy where the applicant worked.

For interpreters from Iraq and Afghanistan, only 50 SIVs are available each year — a limit that has compounded long-standing problems with the program’s implementation. These include:

• An overwhelming backlog, with tens of thousands of applications remaining unresolved.
• Extensive delays, even with priority processing. Some cases can take years to complete.
• Ongoing danger, as many applicants and their families remain in hiding or on the run while waiting for a decision.

Are Afghan Parolees and SIV Holders Allowed to Work?

Yes. Afghan parolees and SIV holders are eligible for employment in the United States. Many parolees entered under OAR classification (Operation Allies Welcome – Afghan Relocation), which grants work authorization. SIV holders are granted lawful permanent resident status, giving them the right to live and work indefinitely.

How Our Immigration Attorneys in Florida Can Help

Brown Immigration Law assists both Afghan nationals and the Florida employers who want to hire or support them.

Helping SIV Holders and Parolees

We work directly with Afghan nationals – and the veterans, families, and employers advocating for them – to pursue:

• SIV applications and appeals
• Humanitarian parole filings
• Family reunification petitions
• Guidance for maintaining lawful immigration status

Helping Florida Business Owners

For businesses in Tampa, Orlando, and across Florida employing Afghan nationals, we provide:

• Verification of lawful work status
• Assistance with accurate completion of I-9 forms
• Compliance strategies to prevent discriminatory hiring practice

Frequently Asked Questions About SIV

Helping Afghan Allies Throughout Central Florida

At Brown Immigration Law, our Tampa and Orlando immigration lawyers for Afghan families can help you with the details of your relocation to the US, as well as legal requirements for employment once you are here. Contact us to see how we may be able to assist you today.