Refugees who fled Afghanistan during the chaotic final days of America's longest war are getting a temporary reprieve from an immigration deadline set to hit later this year. The announcement comes as the congressional investigation into the withdrawal takes a contentious turn over producing documents.
Late last week, the Biden administration confirmed it will allow Afghans evacuated during the withdrawal to apply to extend their temporary immigration status when it expires this summer as negotiations in Congress over providing evacuees permanent residency remain at an impasse.
Meanwhile, on Monday, the House chairman investigating the withdrawal threatened to hold Secretary of State Antony Blinken in contempt of Congress if the State Department continues to withhold a document that reportedly warned of Kabul's imminent collapse weeks before it happened.
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Some 78,000 Afghans were brought to the United States on U.S. military evacuation flights in August 2021, most of whom were admitted under a temporary status known as humanitarian parole. Most evacuees were granted two years of parole, meaning their protection to legally work and live in the United States is on track to expire this coming August.
Parole does not provide a pathway to apply for legal permanent resident status, commonly known as a green card. While parolees can apply…
