Welcome Afghan Allies

How can you help Afghan Allies?

• Our top needs include employment connections, permanent housing, and Uber and Lyft gift cards. 
• Keep fighting for a legal pathway to citizenship for Afghan Allies with parole status - encourage your Congress members to support an Afghan Adjustment Act. 
• Volunteer with us! 
• Hire new neighbors! 

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) has provided resettlement services to more than 6,500 Afghan Allies throughout Maryland and Virginia, the largest number of on the East Coast since Summer 2021.

We have a long history supporting Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders in the Washington D.C. metro area since the creation of the SIV program in 2008. Prior to Summer 2021, 94 - 98% of LSSNCA's program participants were SIV holders. 

In August 2021 there was a hurried evacuation from Afghanistan. In addition to those with the SIV stamp in their passport, many other thousands were granted humanitarian parole status. This new program, the Afghan Placement and Assistance Program (APA), was established to quicken the evacuation of Afghan nationals. Humanitarian parole status does not offer permanent legal residency in the U.S., but the U.S. government did extend the status to last up to two years. LSSNCA continues to fight alongside the community for the passage of the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act. 

LSSNCA collaborates with veteran/military community organizations and coalitions including #AfghanEvac, Evacuate Our Allies, No One Left Behind, PenFed Foundation, Team Rubicon, and White Oak Collaborative.

Subscribe to our newsletter for up-to-date details on the evolving situation and how to stay involved. If you have Afghan Allies questions not answered here, email afghanallies@lssnca.org.