In the fall of 2021, attorneys at Haug Partners sought Humanitarian Parole for multiple Afghans in need of evacuation after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Our dedicated attorneys have helped family members of a former employee of the Supreme Court of Afghanistan and family members of Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to gain permission to live in the United States. SIV holders are granted special immigrant status based on past service to the U.S. military and/or contractors in Afghanistan.
In August 2021, the U.S. military-backed Afghan government collapsed in Kabul, paving the way for the Taliban militant group to seize the reins of government. News reports revealed that the militant group continued to persecute women and ethnic and religious minorities. Afghan allies of the U.S. government in Afghanistan also feared they would be targeted by the Taliban in acts of retribution. As a result, there was an urgent and dire need to evacuate thousands of U.S. citizens and Afghan nationals. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) authorizes Humanitarian Parole on a case-by-case basis when there are urgent humanitarian and/or significant public benefit reasons. Once granted, Humanitarian Parole permits lawful presence in the U.S. for a limited duration of time. As of late October, USCIS received tens of thousands of Humanitarian Parole applications on behalf of Afghan nationals.
Haug Partners attorneys partnered with Pars Equality Center in San Jose, California to identify and provide assistance to Afghans in need of evacuation. Our attorneys communicated quickly with sponsors of Afghan nationals by phone to assemble and file Humanitarian Parole applications spanning dozens of pages of documentary evidence, including personal identification documents, bank statements, tax returns, proof of employment by the U.S. government and/or contractors, and sworn statements describing the facts giving rise to the need for evacuation.
Haug Partners is proud to provide legal assistance to Afghan nationals in need. The firm maintains a busy pro bono practice year-round.