Two Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have launched an effort to bypass Republican leadership and force a vote on restoring Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals.
According to NBC News, Representatives Jason Crow of Colorado and Sam Liccardo of California filed a discharge petition on Monday following Congress's return to Washington. The petition aims to bring the legislative measure directly to the House floor.
To succeed, the petition requires the signatures of at least 218 House members. If passed into law, the bill would protect vulnerable Afghan refugees in the United States from deportation until mid-2029.
TPS was created by Congress in 1990 to grant temporary work permits and deportation relief to migrants from unsafe countries for up to 18 months. The Donald Trump administration ended Afghanistan's TPS designation in May 2025, which had originally been granted under Joe Biden in 2022.
Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem argued at the time that security and economic conditions in Afghanistan had stabilized, no longer justifying temporary protection. Human rights groups strongly criticized that assessment.
Crow, an army veteran who served in Afghanistan, stated that Afghan allies risked their lives to protect American personnel and must not be abandoned. The proposal has gained backing from four Republicans, one independent lawmaker, and over 50 veteran and human rights organizations.
Source: NBC News
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