The Enduring Welcome Act of 2025 redefines the role of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) by creating an Office of the Coordinator within the Department of State and broadening CARE’s responsibilities. The bill adds duties including supporting voluntary departure, interagency vetting and case processing, facilitating relocation logistics, addressing family reunification barriers, coordinating integration support, maintaining a centralized database, and providing timely information to Congress on relocation progress.
These changes are designed to improve coordination across agencies and increase transparency in the Afghan relocation process.
It also establishes a data collection framework and centralized database to track Afghan applicants, beneficiaries, and relocated individuals, with metrics on admissions, family reunifications, timing, denials, and active-duty military-linked cases. The Secretary of State would report periodically to Congress on the status of these metrics, and the act sunsets five years after enactment, unless extended by future legislation.
The definitions section clarifies who counts as a “covered person” for purposes of CARE’s expanded mandate.
At a Glance
What It Does
The bill designates an Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the Department of State and expands CARE’s statutory duties across voluntary departure, interagency vetting, relocation logistics, family reunification, integration support, and centralized data management.
Who It Affects
Federal agencies (State, Homeland Security, Defense), resettlement centers and agencies, Afghan applicants and beneficiaries, and active-duty service members with Afghan family members.
Why It Matters
Creates a formal, data-driven framework for Afghan relocation, enabling better interagency coordination, transparency, and accountability, while anchoring family reunification and veteran-support objectives in a single coordinating office.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill moves CARE under the Department of State as the head of a new Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts and charges it with additional responsibilities. It formalizes interagency coordination around vetting, screening, and case processing for eligible Afghan allies, and it expands CARE’s duties to include facilitating relocation logistics, addressing barriers to family reunification, and coordinating integration and trauma support services.
A new, centralized database will collect and secure information on applicants, beneficiaries, and relocated individuals, with regular reporting to Congress on key metrics.
The act defines who is eligible under CARE’s expanded mandate (the “covered persons,” including citizens, relatives, and eligible Afghan allies) and sets a sunset at five years. It also requires ongoing data collection on admission paths (SIV, USRAP, parole) and relocation timelines, with the database supporting operational reporting and oversight across relevant federal agencies.
Overall, the bill aims to increase accountability and transparency in relocation operations while ensuring reunification and support for those relocated.
The Five Things You Need to Know
Section 3 creates an Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the Department of State and expands CARE’s duties.
Section 4 requires a secure, centralized database to track Afghan applicants, beneficiaries, and relocated individuals with defined metrics.
A 30-day, then every-90-days reporting cadence to Congress begins after the database is established.
Definitions expand who qualifies as a “covered person” for CARE’s authority, including families and certain Afghan allies.
The act sunsets five years after enactment, with a conforming amendment to prior law.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Findings
This section lays out the findings and policy rationale behind the Enduring Welcome Act, highlighting the importance of a secure, reliable relocation pathway for Afghan allies and the need to uphold U.S. commitments. It references the importance of continued support for servicemembers and veterans with Afghan family ties and notes the Inspector General’s finding on vetting rigor. The findings set the stage for expanding CARE’s role and establishing formal mechanisms for oversight.
Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts
Section 3 establishes an Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts within the Department of State and designates CARE as the head of that office. It adds seven specific responsibilities, including coordinating vetting and case processing with DHS and DoD, facilitating relocation logistics, addressing family reunification barriers, coordinating integration support, maintaining a centralized database, and reporting to Congress on progress.
Collection of Information and Database
Section 4 requires systematic collection of information on Afghan applicants, beneficiaries, and relocated individuals. It creates a secure, centralized database, allows for classified handling when necessary, and mandates periodic reporting to Congress—initially 30 days after establishment and then every 90 days—on the status of each metric. The data framework is designed to inform operations, oversight, and interagency coordination.
Definitions
Section 5 defines key terms, including “Coordinator,” “Covered Person,” and the various categories of eligible individuals (citizens, relatives, Special Immigrant Visa applicants, refugees, and others linked to Afghan relocation programs). These definitions clarify who falls under CARE’s expanded mandate and ensure consistent application across agencies.
Sunset
Section 6 sets a five-year sunset for the Act, subject to the stated exceptions in Section 4(c). It also makes a conforming amendment to the related provision in Public Law 118-159, aligning timelines and extending CARE’s authorities only for the period specified in the Act.
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Who Benefits
- Active-duty service members and veterans with Afghan family members benefit from formal pathways and reunification provisions, reducing barriers to family reunification.
- Afghan applicants and beneficiaries gain clearer eligibility criteria, more transparent processing, and access to a centralized information system tracking progress.
- Resettlement support centers and U.S.-based resettlement agencies can anticipate needs and coordinate resources with better data and interagency cooperation.
- The Department of State and other federal agencies improve interagency coordination (with DHS and DoD) and oversight through standardized reporting to Congress.
- Congress and oversight committees receive timely, structured information on relocation status and program performance, enabling accountability and informed policymaking.
Who Bears the Cost
- State Department and partner agencies incur IT, data security, and reporting costs to establish and maintain the centralized database.
- Resettlement organizations and centers face increased data handling and compliance requirements.
- Interagency coordination efforts (DHS, DoD) may require additional administrative resources and coordination overhead.
- There are potential privacy and civil liberties costs associated with centralized data collection and storage of sensitive information.
- Congress bears ongoing oversight costs for monitoring quarterly reports and evaluating program performance.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The core tension is between accelerating and securing Afghan relocation (and family reunification) and safeguarding sensitive information and interagency coordination costs. Expanding CARE’s authority promises more streamlined operations and accountability but increases bureaucratic complexity and data privacy risks, creating a trade-off between speed, transparency, and security.
The centralization of data and expanded reporting create opportunities for greater accountability, but they also raise privacy and data-security questions. Maintaining a secure database with sensitive information requires robust governance, access controls, and clear retention parameters to prevent misuse.
Operationally, the expanded CARE duties depend on interagency cooperation and adequate funding to sustain vetting, logistics, and integration services. If resources are insufficient, the administrative burden could slow reunification efforts or degrade service quality.
The unfunded elements of expanded authority and the five-year sunset raise questions about long-term stability and transition planning once the Act expires.
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