WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has canceled the travel plans of refugees who were approved to come to the United States ahead of an imminent suspension of the country’s refugee resettlement program. This decision has left numerous individuals stranded in various countries, including over 1,600 Afghans who supported U.S. military efforts, along with the families of active-duty U.S. service members.
Recently, President Donald Trump issued a pause on the resettlement program as part of a broad set of executive actions aimed at tightening immigration policies. Initially, it was suggested that refugees who had already undergone the rigorous screening process and booked flights before the Jan. 27 deadline might still have the chance to enter the U.S. However, in an internal email seen by media outlets, the agency overseeing refugee admissions notified its staff and related parties that “refugee arrivals to the United States have been suspended until further notice.”
Documents indicate that over 10,000 refugees from various regions had completed the necessary application processes and were scheduled for travel in the upcoming weeks. It remains unclear how many of these individuals were expected to arrive before the impending deadline. Among those affected are more than 1,600 Afghans who were cleared as part of a program initiated by the Biden administration following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Many veterans from the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan have spent years working to assist Afghans and their families in obtaining safe haven in the U.S. While some anticipated the potential suspension of the resettlement program, they hoped for special considerations regarding Afghan allies. “The Trump administration’s sudden halt on refugee flights is concerning, leaving countless Afghan associates with feelings of fear and uncertainty,” remarked Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and leader of #AfghanEvac, a coalition advocating for Afghan resettlement. “We are prepared to collaborate on solutions and urge clear communication with affected families. It is essential to honor our commitments and maintain the values of our nation.”
A distinct route exists via the special immigrant visa program, which is specifically designed for Afghans who aided the U.S. government. According to VanDiver’s organization, this program, instituted by Congress, does not currently seem to be impacted by Trump’s recent actions.
The executive order signed by Trump on Monday allowed a week for the State Department to halt all processing and travel; however, it appears that the timeline was expedited. The reasoning behind this shift was not immediately apparent. The State Department redirected inquiries to the White House, which had yet to provide a comment.
Organizations that facilitate refugee resettlement and the adjustment to life in the U.S. have expressed concerns that this action undermines the legal immigration process that many advocates, including Trump supporters, have endorsed, citing the extensive background checks and lengthy waiting times that applicants face before arriving in the U.S.
“This unexpected cessation of refugee admissions is devastating for families who have already faced unimaginable struggles and have awaited years for the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety,” stated Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president of Global Refuge, one of ten recognized U.S. resettlement agencies. “Refugees endure one of the world’s most thorough vetting procedures, and many are now seeing their travel plans abruptly canceled just days or even hours before they were set to begin new lives in America,” she added. “It’s truly heartbreaking.”
It is crucial to distinguish refugees from individuals who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border aiming to seek asylum, as refugees must be outside the U.S. to qualify for resettlement and are typically referred by the United Nations to the State Department. The refugee resettlement program has traditionally enjoyed bipartisan backing, though the previous Trump administration temporarily suspended resettlement efforts and subsequently reduced the annual quota for incoming refugees.
