What legal status do Afghans have as they evacuate to the US? It varies

So we're prepared to house them and feed them as long as it takes to get them through the process. And as long as the Secretary approves that, um, I agree with you there coming here, uh, starting over with what they bring with them. We we've been incredibly well supported by the local communities, uh the non governmental organizations, etcetera that have jumped in uh to help these families with uh things of needs such as uh diapers, formula, clothing, you name it, you see the gamut when you're talking these large numbers and we've been tremendously blessed to have great support. Well, they stay on, they'll stay on base until they complete the uh special immigrant visa processing process, which is owned by the State Department. With the support, we provide medical support. We provide contract medical support as part of that. So each of the applicants will go through a screening process, such as screening for uh you know, diseases, vaccinations if they need vaccinated. Uh, we'll have the International migration organization come in towards the end of the process and work with them on where they need to be relocated. Many of them have family already here in the United States or they will be relocated to places where there's already afghan populations, et cetera. What we saw at Fort lee with those that already had some type of a special immigrant visa processing is that was taken about 5 to 7 days. Uh we won't know exactly how long that's gonna take until the State Department and everybody is on the ground full up and we're ready to begin process, They have gone through the screening process before putting feet in the continental United States. From a security perspective, when they are uh, through customs, they are paroled into the United States of America. And if they have relatives, theoretically, they can go with those relatives, what we're doing is helping them get through the screening process. And so we provide all of the governmental organizations to support that the medical process, et cetera. And so we are not doing security screening in support of State Department. This is part of the application for special immigrant status.

Video above: Refugees from Afghanistan to remain at military bases until relocations are determinedMore than 122,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan, all with varying legal statuses and needs as many of them arrive in the United States.Some are U.S. citizens, others Afghan interpreters who worked alongside U.S. troops and were granted a special visa as a result, and others still are refugees fleeing for their lives.The focus is shifting onto those landing in the U.S. and what assistance will be provided to those who left with little to no belongings after a frenzied evacuation effort.Here's what to know about the Afghans arriving to the U.S. and the benefits available to them:What is the legal status of Afghans coming to the US?It's a mixed bag. Some are U.S. citizens and green card holders. But others have been granted visas or other forms of humanitarian relief. Most notably is the special immigrant visa, or SIV, which is meant to provide a pathway to the United States for Afghans who were employed by or worked on behalf of the U.S. government.There is a lengthy multi-step process for SIV applicants to apply for visas to the U.S. The process — which also includes extensive vetting — can take months, if not years due to a massive backlog.In early August, the Biden administration announced it would also expand access to the refugee program for Afghans who do not qualify for SIVs. These Afghans, including those who worked for U.S.-based media companies or non-governmental organizations, are now eligible for "Priority 2" or "P2" designation, which applies to "groups of special concern designated by the Department of State as having access to the program by virtue of their circumstances and apparent need for resettlement." There was also an existing "Priority 1" designation under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.And then there are those without visas. In a move to accommodate them, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency responsible for screening arriving Afghans, has the authority to grant parole on a case-by-case basis.The U.S. has previously used parole during evacuations, including during the U.S. military withdrawal from Vietnam.Afghans paroled into the U.S. could be interpreters who worked alongside U.S. troops and are still going through the special immigrant visa process or people who could've been eligible to come in through the traditional refugee resettlement program, if not for the emergency nature of the evacuation and lengthy time it takes to get approvals, refugee advocates say.Where are those Afghans going?The U.S. is relying on third countries, like Kuwait and Qatar, as a temporary stop before Afghans fly to the U.S. and using a series of military bases in the U.S. to house evacuees while they are processed.The Pentagon has said those bases will include Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; Fort Pickett, Virginia; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort Bliss, Texas; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.U.S. military installations housing Afghan refugees are providing culturally appropriate halal meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and most locations have or will have culturally appropriate 24-hour "grab and go" food available as well, according to US NORTHCOM commander Gen. Glen VanHerck.What benefits can Afghans receive in the US?It depends. Refugees and special immigrant visa holders have access to a range of short and long-term services to get up on their feet, from help with housing and employment to cash and medical assistance.But parole, while providing some reprieve, doesn't unlock services that refugees receive, raising concern among refugee advocates who argue the lack of resources could leave thousands of Afghans in the U.S. vulnerable in the coming months.Could Afghans paroled into the US eventually get benefits?People paroled into the U.S. typically aren't eligible for benefits, though it allows individuals to apply for work permits. But the Biden administration is planning to extend some services typically afforded to refugees to Afghan evacuees provided temporary entry into the United States, according to a government document obtained by CNN.The State Department issued a funding opportunity last Monday for a so-called Afghan Parolee Support Program that would provide relocation support services for 30 to 90 days after arrival, according to the document. That might include, for example, helping secure housing. Groups that enter into agreement with the federal government will be provided $2,275 for each Afghan parolee it serves, the document says.But aid groups argue that's not enough."If they had come in as SIVs or through the traditional refugee resettlement process, they would be entitled to the reception and placement program for 90 days and then a broader set of services up to five years," said Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a refugee resettlement organization, in a call with reporters on Tuesday."Obviously, we are grateful that there is even these meager resources when these families, individuals arrive, but we know that three months of support for families who are fleeing with really very little does not set them up for success and is unfair given all the sacrifices that we asked of them," O'Mara Vignarajah added.Behind the scenes, refugee organizations are imploring the administration and Congress to provide additional services to those who fall outside of refugee benefits. In mid-August, President Joe Biden gave the go-ahead for the use of additional funds, not to exceed $500 million, from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund to meet unexpected and urgent needs of people at risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan.But Congress would need to make Afghan parolees eligible for long-term services — like public benefits — provided to refugees and authorize the funds to offer those resources. Otherwise, the refugee organizations are limited in what they can provide."We're scrambling because all the structures put in place in 1980 are not applicable to parolees," said Mark Hetfield, president and CEO of HIAS, a refugee resettlement agency, referring to the Refugee Act of 1980. "These are people who laid their lives on the line for the United States and to have them serviced by refugee agencies but given fewer services than refugees get would be such an injustice."

Video above: Refugees from Afghanistan to remain at military bases until relocations are determined

More than 122,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan, all with varying legal statuses and needs as many of them arrive in the United States.

Some are U.S. citizens, others who worked alongside U.S. troops and were granted a special visa as a result, and others still are refugees fleeing for their lives.

The focus is shifting onto those landing in the U.S. and what assistance will be provided to those who left with little to no belongings after a frenzied evacuation effort.

Here's what to know about the Afghans arriving to the U.S. and the benefits available to them:

What is the legal status of Afghans coming to the US?

It's a mixed bag. Some are U.S. citizens and green card holders. But others have been granted visas or other forms of humanitarian relief. Most notably is the , or SIV, which is meant to provide a pathway to the United States for Afghans who were employed by or worked on behalf of the U.S. government.

There is a lengthy multi-step process for SIV applicants to apply for visas to the U.S. The process — which also includes extensive vetting — can take months, if not years due to a massive backlog.

In early August, the Biden administration announced it would also expand access to the refugee program for Afghans who do not qualify for SIVs. These Afghans, including those who worked for U.S.-based media companies or non-governmental organizations, are now eligible for "Priority 2" or "P2" designation, which applies to "groups of special concern designated by the Department of State as having access to the program by virtue of their circumstances and apparent need for resettlement." There was also an existing "Priority 1" designation under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

And then there are those without visas. In a move to accommodate them, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency responsible for screening arriving Afghans, has the authority to grant parole on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. has , including during the U.S. military withdrawal from Vietnam.

Afghans paroled into the U.S. could be interpreters who worked alongside U.S. troops and are still going through the special immigrant visa process or people who could've been eligible to come in through the traditional refugee resettlement program, if not for the emergency nature of the evacuation and lengthy time it takes to get approvals, refugee advocates say.

Where are those Afghans going?

The U.S. is relying on third countries, like Kuwait and Qatar, as a temporary stop before Afghans fly to the U.S. and using a series of military bases in the U.S. to house evacuees while they are processed.

The Pentagon has said those bases will include Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; Fort Pickett, Virginia; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort Bliss, Texas; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.

U.S. military installations housing Afghan refugees are providing culturally appropriate halal meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and most locations have or will have culturally appropriate 24-hour "grab and go" food available as well, according to US NORTHCOM commander Gen. Glen VanHerck.

What benefits can Afghans receive in the US?

It depends. Refugees and special immigrant visa holders have access to a to get up on their feet, from help with housing and employment to cash and medical assistance.

But parole, while providing some reprieve, doesn't unlock services that refugees receive, raising concern among refugee advocates who argue the lack of resources could leave thousands of Afghans in the U.S. vulnerable in the coming months.

Could Afghans paroled into the US eventually get benefits?

People paroled into the U.S. typically aren't eligible for benefits, though it allows individuals to apply for work permits. But the Biden administration is planning to extend some services typically afforded to refugees to Afghan evacuees provided temporary entry into the United States, according to a government document obtained by CNN.

The State Department issued a funding opportunity last Monday for a so-called Afghan Parolee Support Program that would provide relocation support services for 30 to 90 days after arrival, according to the document. That might include, for example, helping secure housing. Groups that enter into agreement with the federal government will be provided $2,275 for each Afghan parolee it serves, the document says.

But aid groups argue that's not enough.

"If they had come in as SIVs or through the traditional refugee resettlement process, they would be entitled to the reception and placement program for 90 days and then a broader set of services up to five years," said Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a refugee resettlement organization, in a call with reporters on Tuesday.

"Obviously, we are grateful that there is even these meager resources when these families, individuals arrive, but we know that three months of support for families who are fleeing with really very little does not set them up for success and is unfair given all the sacrifices that we asked of them," O'Mara Vignarajah added.

Behind the scenes, refugee organizations are imploring the administration and Congress to provide additional services to those who fall outside of refugee benefits. In mid-August, President Joe Biden for the use of additional funds, not to exceed $500 million, from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund to meet unexpected and urgent needs of people at risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan.

But Congress would need to make Afghan parolees eligible for long-term services — like public benefits — provided to refugees and authorize the funds to offer those resources. Otherwise, the refugee organizations are limited in what they can provide.

"We're scrambling because all the structures put in place in 1980 are not applicable to parolees," said Mark Hetfield, president and CEO of HIAS, a refugee resettlement agency, referring to the Refugee Act of 1980. "These are people who laid their lives on the line for the United States and to have them serviced by refugee agencies but given fewer services than refugees get would be such an injustice."

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