Mohammad Sharafoddin, his wife, and their young son made a challenging journey from Afghanistan, often walking for up to 36 hours through mountain passes to find refuge in the United States. Now settled in a suburban home in Irmo, South Carolina, the family reflects on their experience from the comfort of their three-bedroom house. They had hoped to bring Sharafoddin’s niece over to the U.S., dreaming she might study medicine, but these aspirations were dashed.
The U.S. has enacted a travel ban affecting Afghanistan and 12 other nations. The restrictions come as a surprise to Sharafoddin, especially with the Taliban’s restrictive rule over women looming large. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August 2021 amid Western troop withdrawal, they have stifled women’s rights, barring them from most education, employment, and public arenas. Furthermore, recent laws have restricted women from showing their faces or being heard in public spaces.
President Donald Trump authorized the travel ban, reminiscent of a similar policy during his previous term but now extending to more countries. The ban includes Myanmar, Chad, Libya, and Yemen, among others. Trump cited security concerns, pointing out that some visitors overstay visas, posing risks, as evidenced by a recent incident in Boulder, Colorado. The countries selected for the ban often lack thorough screening processes and have high rates of visa overstays.
However, there are carve-outs for those on Special Immigrant Visas, mainly individuals who worked closely with U.S. forces during Afghanistan’s lengthy conflict. Afghanistan became a major source of refugees, contributing significantly to the influx of around 14,000 resettlements in the year through September 2024.
Sharafoddin and his family once traversed harsh mountain roads in darkness to escape Afghanistan via Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey. While in Turkey, Sharafoddin worked in a factory and learned English through YouTube, preparing for resettlement in the United States. Today, he holds a job at a jewelry manufacturer and provides for his family in a comfortable home. The family recently celebrated the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha with a spread of food.
Nuriya Sharafoddin, Mohammad’s wife, is learning English and driving—freedoms she did not have under the Taliban’s regime. She cherishes the opportunities available to their children in the U.S. but is saddened that her niece might not share the same future.
The couple shares videos of their niece’s artistic talents and longed to bring her to the U.S. due to educational restrictions under Taliban rule. Since international travel has become more complicated, Nuriya is hesitant to share the disappointing news with her niece, fearing her reaction.
Assisting refugee families like the Sharafoddins in Columbia, Jim Ray acknowledges the changed dynamics between the U.S. and Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Despite exceptions allowing immediate family to join U.S. residents, extended family reunification now faces significant barriers. The abrupt cutoff of these possibilities deeply affects communities.
Taliban leaders have publicly condemned the travel ban. Their chief, Hibatullah Akhundzada, labeled the U.S. as an oppressor, calling out the exclusion of citizens from 12 countries. He questioned the notion of international friendship amidst such restrictive measures.