Welcoming Afghans and Ukrainians to the United States: A Case in Similarities and Contrasts

In the past year, Ukrainian and Afghan citizens made up the largest nationality-specific parole programs since the modern refugee resettlement system began in 1980. Welcoming Afghans and Ukrainians to the United States: A Case in Similarities and Contrasts highlights the parallel, yet dissimilar treatment that Ukrainian and Afghan arrivals have received from the U.S. government over the past year. The authors emphasize the importance of parole status in successfully admitting both Ukrainians and Afghans to the United States, yet also stress its problematic nature, as parole status offers no pathway to permanent residency. Data drawn from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and NBC News further highlights the disproportionately strong significance that parole has played for these people, over other difficult admission channels such as the refugee resettlement program. The authors suggest that Congress pass legislation to allow parolees a path to permanent residency, as historically has been the case with large parole programs in the past. They additionally recommend that combining Ukrainian and Afghan Adjustment Acts into one piece of legislation could provide greater momentum for passage, helping both groups find paths to permanent residency and stability in the U.S. (Stephanie Depauw for The Immigrant Learning Center’s Public Education Institute)

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