# House Democrats Launch Petition to Restore Afghan Deportation Protections Lawmakers seek to bypass leadership to grant Afghan nationals temporary legal status until 2029. - **Source:** [NBC News – Politics](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/3d508d5c-3576-4e41-ac4a-dbab2c27c250 ## Legislative Bypass Strategy House Representatives Jason Crow and Sam Liccardo initiated a discharge petition to force a floor vote on Afghan Temporary Protected Status. This procedural maneuver aims to bypass Republican leadership, requiring 218 signatures to bring the Afghanistan TPS Act to the floor. The petition was officially submitted on Monday following Congress's return to Washington. ## Historical Policy Context Temporary Protected Status is a Department of Homeland Security program established in 1990 for migrants from unsafe nations. While the Biden administration granted this status to Afghans in 2022, the Trump administration terminated it in May 2025. Officials then cited an improved security situation and stabilizing economy as reasons for the policy reversal. ## Current Deportation Risks The Trump administration recently attempted to deport dozens of Afghan asylum-seekers to Pakistan. A federal judge intervened last week, issuing a temporary block on these removals. Proponents of the new legislation argue that returning these individuals to Afghanistan poses severe risks, as many worked alongside American troops during the long-standing military conflict. ## Bipartisan Support Requirements To succeed, the petition needs all current House Democrats and several Republican signatures to reach the 218-vote threshold. Currently, the bill has four Republican co-sponsors, including Representatives Don Bacon and Maria Elvira Salazar. Additionally, Representative Kevin Kiley, who transitioned from Republican to independent status, has also provided his backing for the proposed measure. ## Advocacy and Veteran Backing The proposed legislation has secured support from over 50 organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Amnesty International USA. Advocates emphasize that the United States made promises to Afghan partners who risked their lives for American forces. They argue that failing to protect these individuals would be a betrayal of those wartime commitments. ## Precedent for Petitions Discharge petitions have become increasingly relevant in the 119th Congress, successfully forcing votes on aid to Ukraine and Affordable Care Act subsidies. In April, a similar petition successfully brought a bill to reinstate protections for Haitian immigrants to the floor. That measure passed the House 224-204 before being blocked by Senate Republicans. ## Legislative Timeline Constraints The House is scheduled to remain in session for two weeks before the upcoming Thanksgiving recess. Lawmakers are operating under a tight schedule to advance the Afghanistan TPS Act before the next congressional transition. Success would extend legal protections for Afghan nationals until July 2029, providing long-term stability for those currently residing in the U.S. ## Broader Political Implications This effort highlights the ongoing tension between legislative attempts to protect vulnerable populations and executive branch immigration policies. If the petition reaches the required signatures, it will force a public floor vote on the matter. This outcome would compel all House members to take a formal stance on the status of Afghan allies. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/democrats-afghans-temporary-protected-status-congress-trump-rcna608310 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._