The Biden administration will offer temporary protected status to Afghans, allowing those who arrive in the U.S. by March 15th to stay for another 18 months.
“This TPS designation will help to protect Afghan nationals who have already been living in the United States from returning to unsafe conditions,” DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a press release, per The Hill.
“Under this designation, TPS will also provide additional protections and assurances to trusted partners and vulnerable Afghans who supported the U.S. military, diplomatic, and humanitarian missions in Afghanistan over the last 20 years,” he added.
Prior to the announcement, Afghans in the U.S. could have otherwise faced deportation as soon as August.