Congress Urged to Hold Hearings on Halts to Migration Programs

Afghan Evac on Tuesday called on the U.S. Congress to hold “results-oriented hearings” into what it described as the widespread suspension of immigration and resettlement programs that have halted or reversed pathways for over a million people.

The refugee advocacy group said lawmakers should focus on “clarifying what has been halted, why programs were stopped, and what steps could be taken to restore lawful pathways,” rather than assigning blame.

“As Congress enters a new year, Afghan allies and their families need more than expressions of concern. They need concrete action,” Afghan Evac said.

Summary of the group’s request and focus

• Afghan Evac’s appeal centers on the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) scheme and family reunification pathways for Afghan allies who worked alongside U.S. forces.
• The group asks Congress for results-oriented hearings to:

1. Map what programs and processes have been halted.
2. Explain why they were stopped.
3. Identify concrete steps to restore lawful pathways.

Key agency actions and timeline

Below are the principal agency actions cited by Afghan Evac and policy experts:

• June 12, 2025 — DHS began sending termination notices to over 500,000 individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela under CHNV parole, a program DHS said it was ending.
• December 12, 2025 — DHS announced termination of Family Reunification Parole programs for citizens of Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras; parole under those programs set to terminate on January 14, 2026.
• DHS tied continued eligibility to a narrow procedural deadline: parole would terminate on January 14, 2026 unless an individual had a pending Form I-485 filed by December 15, 2025.
• December 31, 2025 — USCIS temporarily paused processing of adjustment of status applications for Diversity Visa Lottery winners following security concerns.
• January 1, 2026 — USCIS issued a memorandum pausing review of all pending applications for visas, green cards, citizenship, and asylum for nationals from 20 additional countries, bringing the total to 39 countries plus the Palestinian Authority.
• Countries included in the most recent expansion include Angola, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe among others.

Statements from DHS and USCIS

“USCIS remains dedicated to ensuring aliens from high-risk countries of concern who have entered the United States do not pose risks to national security or public safety. To faithfully uphold United States immigration law, the flow of aliens from countries with high overstay rates, significant fraud, or both must stop,” USCIS said in an official statement dated January 2026.

DHS and administration officials framed terminations as public-safety and integrity measures:
– Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin: “Ending the CHNV parole programs, as well as the paroles of those who exploited it, will be a necessary return to common-sense policies, a return to public safety, and a return to America First.”
– Secretary Kristi Noem (December 2025): “This program has been abused and manipulated. and that will no longer be allowed.”

Practical effects and estimates

• Experts estimate more than 1.5 million immigrants have lost or will lose their temporary legal status, work authorizations, and deportation protections by early 2026 due to these terminations and benefit pauses.
• The January 2026 pause was described as covering nearly 20% of the world’s nations, and has been cited as preventing U.S. citizens from sponsoring spouses, children, or parents from the 39 designated “high-risk” countries.

Impact on specific populations and programs

• Afghan allies relying on the SIV program and family reunification pathways report being stranded or facing visa suspensions after recent developments, including a shooting incident involving an Afghan national.
• DHS has moved to terminate or unwind parole-based programs; USCIS has paused processing for some categories. Advocates warn these steps can quickly strip people of:
• Legal status
• Work authorization
• Protection from deportation

Incentives and voluntary departures

DHS has encouraged parolees to leave the United States voluntarily, offering:
– An option to “self-deport” through the CBP Home Mobile App
– A $1,000 “exit bonus” plus travel assistance for those who depart

These incentives, combined with pending benefit pauses and program terminations, have created urgent decision points for families — particularly regarding whether an applicant had a Form I-485 pending by December 15, 2025 under now-terminated Family Reunification Parole pathways.

What Afghan Evac wants from congressional hearings

Afghan Evac emphasized that the hearings should be focused on clarity and restoration rather than blame. The group specifically asked lawmakers to:

• Identify which programs and processing streams have been halted or paused
• Explain the reasons and legal basis for stopping those programs
• Recommend steps and timelines to restore lawful pathways for Afghan allies and their families

The group’s request frames the hearings as a way to map administrative decisions at DHS and USCIS and to seek practical remedies for those affected.

Public communications and agency resources

USCIS and DHS published some public updates and guidance on the changes:

• DHS announcement on CHNV parole termination: DHS Newsroom (CHNV Termination)
• USCIS updates related to the December 12, 2025 termination of Family Reunification Parole programs: USCIS (FRP Program Updates)
• USCIS guidance and related agency FAQs: USCIS (SAVE Agency FAQs)

Key takeaways and priorities for lawmakers

• Afghan Evac seeks results-oriented hearings that:

1. Map what has been halted and who is affected.
2. Clarify the why behind each pause or termination.
3. Identify concrete administrative or legislative steps to restore lawful pathways, especially for Afghan allies and family reunification cases.

Afghan Evac’s request situates the SIV debate within a broader policy shift at DHS and USCIS in late 2025 and early 2026, calling on Congress to provide clarity and actionable solutions for those now facing rapidly changing immigration statuses.