Washington (TDI): Over 1,600 Afghan refugees eligible for resettlement in the United States are now in jeopardy following President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending the refugee admissions programme indefinitely.
The move, titled Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program, was inked on Monday evening, sparking panic among Afghan refugees, including children awaiting reunification with family members in the country.
The suspension is set to take effect on 27 January, halting the current resettlement processes and barring new applications.
Shawn VanDiver, founder of the advocacy group AfghanEvac, criticised the decision, saying, “We cannot afford to leave these people behind.
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Their lives are at risk due to their association with the US.”
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the United States resettled more than 190,000 Afghans, many of whom worked with the US military or American NGOs.
However, advocates warn the ban could affect thousands, including 200 children awaiting reunification under family schemes.
The ban provides a narrow exception, allowing refugee admissions only through a joint decision by the secretary of homeland security and the secretary of state.
US Risks Trust By Abandoning Afghan Allies
“Failing to protect our Afghan allies sends a dangerous message to the world: that United States’ commitments are conditional and temporary,” AfghanEvac said in a statement.
VanDiver said that most affected Afghans have completed laborious security checks or are in final stages, with some already scheduled on resettlement flights.
“People are freaking out,” he stated, underscoring the uncertainty and fear among those awaiting relocation.
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While senior Trump officials, such as national security adviser Mike Waltz, have supported Afghan resettlement, others, including Stephen Miller, have opposed about all immigration.
Advocates and lawmakers are urging the new government to amend the order, citing the US’s moral obligation to those who supported its mission in Afghanistan.
Without intervention, many fear this decision could erode trust in Washington’s commitments and jeopardise future alliances.
