Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) is outraged at the failure to pass the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act, which echoed previous policies providing a path to permanent residency for Vietnamese, Cubans, and Iraqis. This legislation would have supported our allies, enhanced national security, and made the transition easier for those who already gave up so much. We asked Afghans to believe in the democratic dream when they fought and worked toward gender equality by our side in Afghanistan, and we owe them more than living with the uncertainty of whether they will be deported once humanitarian parole expires, or if they can ever be reunited with their family. LSSNCA resettled the largest number of Afghan Allies on the East Coast since Summer 2021 – more than 4,600 – we’ve welcomed our new neighbors in our community as friends, colleagues, and extended family. We mourn today, then brush off the loss and get back to advocating for our friends and their families.