The Only Republican Backing Democratic Push to Protect Afghans
Summary
Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska is the only Republican who has signed a Democratic-led petition seeking a House vote on legislation to restore Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans in the United States. The bill would extend the designation through July 1, 2029; the petition has 105 signatures, short of the 218 needed to force floor consideration.Key Facts
- Representatives Sam Liccardo and Jason Crow filed the discharge petition on November 9, 2026.
- The Afghanistan TPS Act of 2026 was introduced in July by Crow, Liccardo, Bacon, and Republican Representative María Elvira Salazar.
- Republicans Joe Wilson and Morgan Luttrell support the bill, while independent Representative Kevin Kiley signed the petition.
- The bill would let eligible Afghans in the United States apply for protection from deportation and work authorization through July 1, 2029.
- The bill would require applicant background checks and generally direct the Department of Homeland Security to process TPS and work authorization applications within 90 days.
- A companion Senate bill introduced by Senator Chris Coons remains pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee and has seven cosponsors, including three Republicans.
- The Trump administration ended Afghanistan’s TPS designation in July 2025, after DHS announced the termination in May.
- DHS estimated that about 11,700 Afghan nationals held TPS when the administration moved to end the designation.
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