Thread by @HMAesq

I spent the morning today visiting the processing center for Afghan evacuees outside Dulles Airport.

Several agencies were there: USAID, FEMA, the Army, and of course the State Department.

2000 more are expected today. More are coming.

Most are paroled into the US, with very unofficial documents clearly hastily created.

There are some US citizens, green card holders, and those with approved immigrant visas and Special Immigrant Visas (given to translators/allies)

And a lot of mixed status families.

There is very tight security (I only got in because I was connected to one of the other volunteer orgs.)

I'm told that once they leave, they're given the choice to go to a military base where there is legal support.

But there's no legal presence here at the processing center. These people need legal advice, not just accurate but TIMELY.

Many don't know they need advice. They're brand new. They're tired. They're desperate.

And they're the lucky ones. The ones who made it out.

It's great they're paroled, but what next? Do they even know the importance of taking care of their permanent legal status first? Do they know about the one year bar? What about unaccompanied minors? What about clearing up misinformation?

We've reactivated @DullesJustice - the #MuslimBan airport lawyer group. We built the rapid response legal team 4 years ago. No wheel reinventing.

I'm hopeful we can get clearance to help provide timely advice to these families.

I'll post as we get updates. In the meantime I want to highlight one small, local organization that's been there since Kabul fell: @HumanityHussein. Vetted by DOS, they've been working nonstop.

These are the orgs that can really help. They speak the language, they know the ppl.

If you'd like to donate:

paypal.com/donate?token=l…

Try this link for donation, click on donate:

husseinforhumanity.org