Former U.S. President’s Decision Puts 40,000 Afghan Refugees’ Hopes of Resettlement in Jeopardy
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: Since taking office as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump has made drastic decisions, including pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO), and implementing strict immigration measures — including halting visa processing for Afghans awaiting resettlement in the U.S.
“It was really a horrible moment for us. We have been waiting for almost three years, and now there is no hope,” lamented 20-year-old Syed Hasib Ullah, whose application for resettlement in the U.S. is still in process.
Immigration, which emerged as a key element of Trump’s presidential campaign, remains significant after his inauguration, as he ordered the suspension of all refugee admissions, resulting in the cancellation of nearly 1,660 Afghans who had been cleared for resettlement in the country.
The decision has essentially led to a suspension of flights for over 40,000 Afghans approved for Special U.S. visas and at risk of Taliban retaliation, according to a leading advocate and a U.S. official on Saturday.
The stranded Afghans are primarily in Afghanistan, with others in Pakistan, Qatar, and Albania, according to Shawn VanDiver, head of #AfghanEvac — the main coalition working with the U.S. government to evacuate and resettle Afghans who served alongside the U.S. during the 20-year war.
The news shattered the hopes of many Afghans, with students left in silence or crying in class after hearing the announcement, as Hasib Ullah shared.
The sudden delay has disrupted the plans of many Afghans in Pakistan, leaving them in despair after undergoing extensive vetting and making preparations for new lives in the U.S., where nearly 200,000 Afghans have been resettled under Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) or as refugees since the chaotic 2021 U.S. withdrawal.
“I feel very bad from this news,” said a 16-year-old girl who broke down in tears.
Fearing for their future, these students had hoped to enroll in U.S. high schools after being barred from attending schools in Afghanistan.
In a separate incident, Fatima, a women’s rights advocate, expressed her shock, saying she never expected to be abandoned after years of working with U.S.-funded organizations.
“You supported us at that time and now you are doing something like this,” she said.
There has been no immediate response from the U.S. embassy or State Department regarding whether this new order will affect Afghans waiting in Pakistan for their visas.
“We’ve been living here for three years with the hope of going to America for safety, but now with President Trump’s announcement to halt or delay our cases, we feel betrayed,” Hasib Ullah said. “We helped you, and now we expect help in return.”
