Sponsors (7)
The bill provides temporary legal status and faster work authorization for Afghan nationals in the U.S., improving stability for families and public safety screening, while increasing administrative costs and straining DHS processing capacity with potential delays for security reviews.
Afghan nationals currently in the U.S. can remain temporarily and obtain work authorization through July 1, 2029, avoiding removal and allowing immediate legal employment.
Applicants will generally receive TPS and employment-authorization decisions within 90 days, speeding access to work and reducing long waits and uncertainty.
Applicants must provide biometrics and undergo background checks, which helps screen for security risks while allowing eligible individuals to obtain lawful status.
Taxpayers may face additional administrative and benefit costs to process a large volume of TPS applications and maintain work-authorizations through 2029.
Requiring most adjudications within 90 days could strain DHS staffing and resources, increasing the risk of rushed decisions, processing errors, or higher denial rates if capacity is insufficient.
Allowing up to 150-day extensions for national-security-related reviews can prolong uncertainty for applicants flagged for derogatory information and delay access to benefits.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Designates Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status through July 1, 2029 and requires DHS to accept and adjudicate TPS and work-authorized applications for eligible Afghans.
Official title: To designate Afghanistan under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to permit nationals of Afghanistan to be eligible for temporary protected status under such section, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 23, 2026 by Jason Crow · Last progress July 23, 2026
Designates Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) through July 1, 2029, allowing Afghan nationals present in the United States at enactment to apply for TPS and related employment authorization. It requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to accept and process applications, perform biometric and security checks, complete most adjudications within 90 days (with a limited discretionary extension), and allow certain fee waivers and pre-authorized emergency travel.