83,000 Afghans Made It To The US. Now They Need Lawyers

Marco Poggio, Law360, Feb. 6, 2022

"As the frantic withdrawal of American troops and diplomatic personnel unfolded last summer, the U.S. government and allies transported thousands of Afghans fleeing Taliban rule. About 83,000 people have arrived in the U.S. as part of an operation dubbed Allies Welcome, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. But the arrival of so many people at the same time has put stress on the already overburdened immigration system and created an access to justice crisis, attorneys say. Despite the relentless work of nonprofits, pro bono attorneys and law school clinics, the search for immigration attorneys with the right qualifications to help Afghan evacuees is monumental. "Everyone's trying to find lawyers who want to do this work," said Lenni B. Benson, a professor of immigration law at New York Law School. She called the logistics of meeting the legal needs of so many people at once "very daunting." With huge backlogs and competent lawyers in short supply, it could take years before Afghan nationals will be able to secure a future in the U.S., and if Congress doesn't act, their path ahead will be long and filled with risk, advocates say."

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