rocky41_7

I've got two "contact your Congresspeople" points for you today:

1. Assault weapons ban. The House is considering an assault weapons ban, but it's still in the early stages. Nevertheless, do reach out to your Representative to voice your support! We had an assault weapons ban in place between 1994-2004 (it was not renewed after it expired in '04) and while it will not fix all gun crime, it can help. Even if you're in a deep red or deep blue state I would encourage you to reach out! We have to keep making noise on this issue.

2. Protect abortion access. There are limited things the government can do presently, but the House has just passed a bill to make it legal nationally to travel to a different state to receive an abortion. This is likely to get hung up in the Senate due to the current make up, but I would still encourage you to reach out to both your Senators to voice your support.

Not sure who your Congresspeople are? Find out here!

My last post about this picked up a few notes so I’m providing an update and some additional action items.

News

Afghanistan in economic turmoil, widespread famine imminent (Yahoo News, 4/3/22)

Afghanistan facing economic collapse (Video, NBC News, 3/31/22)

Former government officials now toiling in unsafe mines, conditions not monitored by Taliban government (NYT, 3/29/22)

Biden Administration unfreezes Afghan assets but siphons half for 9/11 relief fund and returns none to Afghanistan’s central bank (USA Today, 2/11/22)

Taliban backtracks on permitting female schooling (Amnesty International, 3/28/22)

Crippled healthcare sector falls victim to massive measles outbreak (The Telegraph, 4/1/22)

Afghanistan’s hungry will pay the price for Putin’s war (Foreign Policy, 4/1/22)

What can you do?

The International Rescue Committee’s page on how to help

Donate to the IRC

Send a prefabricated message to the White House

Contact your Representative and Senators to demand action (you will have 1 Representative and 2 Senators)

Return the money appropriated for the 9/11 relief fund to Afghanistan
End sanctions exacerbating widespread poverty and hunger
Create a simplified path to citizenship for Afghan asylees and refugees in America
Bolster staff and funding in the immigration system to speed processing of applications for asylum, withholding of removal, permanent residency, and citizenship

Volunteer to help Afghans resettle in your area

As a Non-American

Urge your government to reduce or end sanctions against Afghanistan and to welcome Afghan refugees

Be aware of your government’s policies towards Afghanistan

Hi everyone,

I know the war in Ukraine is consuming a lot of attention right now, but I don’t want to let the spotlight drop off the situation in Afghanistan.

Afghan refugees in the United States have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by the Biden Administration (3/16/22). This is very good news, but we need to keep action coming.

As it sounds, TPS is not a permanent solution. For Afghans who are unable or unwilling to return home, there needs to be a clear, reasonable path towards permanent residency and/or citizenship in the United States.

Once again I would urge you to reach out to your Congresspeople, to express approval for the TPS designation and to ask them to take further steps to protect Afghan immigrants. An Afghan Adjustment Act or similar legislation would do a lot to make it easier for Afghans to remain in the United States without fear of forced repatriation.

Americans,

Here’s another “write your Congresspeople” call. I urge everyone to consider writing to both their Senators and their Representative to implore them to take action for Afghan refugees and asylees trying to enter or remain in the U.S. Right now, delays in an underfunded and overly complicated system are making things not only more stressful, but more dangerous than they need to be by delaying applicants and their families through a lengthy processing period.

If you aren’t sure who your Congresspeople are, you can look up Senators by ZIP code and Representatives by ZIP code (you will have 2 Senators and 1 Representative).

You don’t have to be specific, just let them know you are deeply concerned and want to see action taken to make things easier for Afghans trying to enter or remain in the United States. If you want to get more detailed, more funding and staffing to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (which was gutted by the last administration) would be helpful.

On the situation:

Tens of Thousands of Afghans Marooned in America’s Immigration System (1/26/22)
Condition of Afghan Refugees in the United States and How to Help (1/21/22)
IS Clashes with Taliban in Jalalabad (1/21/22)
Afghan Women’s Rights Activists Disappeared (1/24/22)
Increased Violence against the Queer Community in Afghanistan Since Taliban Takeover (1/27/22)
Afghanistan Facing Widespread Hunger (1/24/22)

Current Mood: worried

Entries tagged with contact your congresspeople

Contact Your Congresspeople

Helping Afghanistan (4/4/22)

News

What can you do?

As a Non-American

Afghans in America: Update 1

Help Afghan Immigrants

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May 2025

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