Over 1,600 Afghan refugees who were eligible for resettlement in the United States are now at risk due to President Donald Trump’s executive order that indefinitely suspends the refugee admissions program. The order, called Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program, was signed on Monday, causing panic among Afghan refugees, including children who were awaiting family reunification in the US.
Effective from January 27, the suspension will stop ongoing resettlement efforts and prevent new applications from being processed. Shawn VanDiver, the founder of AfghanEvac, an advocacy group, condemned the move, stressing that leaving these individuals behind could put their lives in danger due to their ties with the United States.
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Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, the US has resettled over 190,000 Afghans, many of whom served with the US military or NGOs. However, the new ban could harm thousands, including 200 children awaiting family reunification. The ban allows for limited exceptions, but critics argue this narrow provision does not adequately address the severity of the situation.
AfghanEvac expressed concerns that the decision to not protect Afghan allies would send a troubling message to the world about the conditional nature of US commitments. VanDiver pointed out that most affected individuals have already passed rigorous security screenings or are in the final stages of resettlement, with some even scheduled for flights.
While some Trump administration officials, including national security adviser Mike Waltz, support the resettlement of Afghans, others, such as Stephen Miller, oppose nearly all forms of immigration. Advocates and lawmakers are calling for changes to the order, urging the administration to honor its moral duty to those who supported US missions in Afghanistan. If not amended, many fear that this decision could damage US credibility and future international relationships.
