Bill Text: NJ AR68 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass "Afghan Adjustment Act."
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-01-13 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee [AR68 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-AR68-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MITCHELLE DRULIS
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass "Afghan Adjustment Act."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging Congress to pass the "Afghan Adjustment Act."
Whereas, More than one million United States service members, frontline civilians, intelligence community staff, and aid workers served the interests of the United States on the ground in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021; and
Whereas, United States forces withdrew from Afghanistan on August 31, 2021, leaving behind thousands of allies who believed in the ideals of America, endangered their own lives to stand with the United States, and are now at risk; and
Whereas, Thousands of Afghans, including those who aided the United States and its allies, civil rights defenders, and political activists were forced to flee their country when United States forces withdrew from Afghanistan; and
Whereas, According to the International Rescue Committee, after the withdrawal of United States forces, 76,000 men, women, and children fled Afghanistan, were brought to the United States under humanitarian parole, and now have only temporary permission to stay in the country with no path to citizenship; and
Whereas, Veterans, frontline civilians, and a cross-section of American volunteers are calling on the United States government to meet its commitments to offer safety to the Afghans who stood with the United States over the twenty-year conflict; and
Whereas, The "Afghan Adjustment Act" is bipartisan legislation that ensures Afghans who were brought to safety by the United States military may apply for lasting protection to stay in the United States long-term; and
Whereas, Congress has passed similar legislation in the past that granted Cubans, people from Southeast Asia, and Iraqis who had entered the United States as non-immigrants under similar circumstances the opportunity to adjust to permanent status; and
Whereas, This House recognizes and honors the contributions and sacrifices of the Afghan allies, as well as their assistance in the United States' mission abroad and the many ways they have enriched our communities across the nation and here in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully
urges the United States Congress to pass the bipartisan "Afghan Adjustment Act,"
which would provide a pathway to permanent legal status for evacuees from
Afghanistan, who were allies that believed in the ideals of America, and endangered
their own lives to stand with the United States.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution respectfully urges Congress to pass the "Afghan Adjustment Act."
More than one million United States service members, frontline civilians, intelligence community staff, and aid workers served the interests of the United States on the ground in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. On August 31, 2021, United States forces withdrew from Afghanistan leaving behind thousands of allies who believed in the ideals of America, and endangered their own lives to stand with the United States.
Following the United States' military withdrawal from Afghanistan, tens of thousands of United States-affiliated Afghans were evacuated to the United States via humanitarian parole, a temporary allowance to enter and remain in the United States for one to two years. Despite receiving this life-saving evacuation, Afghans with this status find themselves under a cloud of legal uncertainty.
The "Afghan Adjustment Act" is bipartisan legislation introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate that ensures Afghans brought to safety by the United States military have the ability to apply for lasting protection to stay in the United States long-term.
Congress has passed similar legislation in the past that granted Cubans, people from Southeast Asia, and Iraqis who had entered the United States as non-immigrants under similar circumstances the opportunity to adjust to permanent status.
This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass the bipartisan "Afghan Adjustment Act," and provide a pathway to permanent legal status for the evacuees from Afghanistan.
