An executive order signed by the President on Monday suspends refugee admissions to the United States, placing thousands of Afghan citizens who assisted the U.S. mission during the war at risk, according to the president of a California-based resettlement organization.
The order impacts Afghans currently in hiding from the Taliban as well as family members of active-duty U.S. troops. Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, a coalition of over 250 organizations, described the order as “another broken promise” that threatens to abandon thousands of Afghan allies who supported U.S. service members during two decades of conflict.
Titled “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” the order is set to take effect next Monday and does not indicate when the suspension will end, stating it will continue “until such time as the further entry into the United States of refugees aligns with the interests of the United States.”
Historically, refugee programs have been a source of pride for the United States, reflecting its commitment to human rights. Typically, the president makes an annual determination regarding the number of refugees permitted to enter the country.
Following the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration initiated Operation Allies Welcome, allowing 76,000 evacuated Afghans to enter for humanitarian reasons, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
As of 2023, statistics indicate that over 90,000 Afghans have settled in the U.S. Nevertheless, refugee agencies had been preparing for a significant reduction in the admissions program since the recent election.
During his first term, the President imposed a travel ban affecting six Muslim-majority countries and reduced the refugee cap, leading to record low admissions in 2020. This left many refugees stranded in various countries.
After assuming office in 2021, the President restored the refugee program, with approximately 100,000 refugees arriving in the fiscal year ending in September 2024, the highest figure in nearly three decades.
Mr. Trump's candidacy for the 2024 election has been associated with a conservative policy approach suggesting that he may reference increased migrant crossings at the southern border as a rationale for halting refugee resettlements.
The refugee order notes that the U.S. has faced significant migration levels over the past four years, leading to demands for federal aid in several cities and towns to accommodate new arrivals.
Despite this, Mr. VanDiver pointed out that public surveys have shown strong support for resettling Afghan allies. He emphasized that those entering through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program undergo extensive vetting processes.
Mr. Trump's executive action is expected to leave many Afghan refugees in limbo, halting their cases and preventing them from flying to the U.S. Moreover, an additional order concerning national security may further complicate the situation for Afghan applicants.
A coalition led by Mr. VanDiver has sent a letter with over 700 signatures from veterans and civilians advocating for the exemption of Afghan allies from the refugee pause.
He stressed the potential impact on family members of active-duty service members and noted that failing to protect Afghan allies sends a troubling message regarding U.S. commitments and undermines global trust in American leadership.