Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration frozen admissions to refugees and foreign aid, a part of twins promises to reduce migration (legal and illegal) in the United States and reduce the alleged government waste. However, these policies have combined to cut an already thin lifeline for an extremely vulnerable group: Afghans who helped the United States before the withdrawal of American forces in 2021. These Afghan allies, as well as their families, are confronted with persecution, arrest or even the murder of the Taliban regime. For many, the country’s flight is their only chance – but new American policies have made an already difficult bureaucratic process to move to the United States effectively impossible.
#Afghanevac represents a coalition of more than 250 non -governmental organizations working to plead for Afghan allies. In this interview, Shawn Vandiver, president of #Afghanevac, discusses the impact of refugees’ freezing and foreign aid on the relocation pipeline for Afghan allies – and humanitarian and geopolitical costs abandoning these Afghans.
“For many Afghans, it’s worse than withdrawal,” said Vandiver. “… The brutal collapse of the relocation process resembles another betrayal of the United States”
Can you generally explain how the process works for Afghan allies who seek to move to the United States?
THE process for Afghan allies to move to the United States On several ways, but the two main ones are the Special Immigrant Visa Program (SIV) and the American refugee admission program (USRAP). The SIV program is intended for Afghans who have worked directly with the American army or government, while the Priority 1 (P-1) and Priority 2 (P-2) categories of USRAP offer options to other persecution because of their American affiliations.
Each route involves in -depth verification, security screening and treatment with several American agencies. Once approved, Afghans are either transported to the United States, or treated in locations in the third country. However, arrears, bureaucratic delays and incoherent policies have left tens of thousands of allies in limbo – for years.
How did the Trump administration policies – in particular the freezing of foreign aid frozen and a break on admissions to refugees – had an impact on these steps?
The Trump administration foreign help freezes and stops on refugees admission considerably disturbed An already fragile relocation system. The immediate impact was a closing of the sustainable welcome program, which facilitated the relocations of Afghans at risk. This means that the Afghans who were in the middle of the process – some having even completed security check – are now blocked.
The refugee break has also interrupted P-1 and P-2 treatment, effectively reducing a key route for vulnerable Afghans, including women leaders, journalists and human rights defenders. In addition, the freezing of the financing of the State Department has restricted support for Afghans pending in third countries, leaving them without housing, food assistance or legal aid to continue their business.
These changes have considerably reduced the number of Afghans capable of reaching security, creating a backlog that will take years in Claire – if the program is reintegrated.
How many Afghans are affected?
More than 195,000 Afghans have been moved since 2021, but tens of thousands of people remain in limbo. Estimates suggest that at least 250,000 Afghans, including our allies and their families, still expect, with thousands of others who have not even been able to apply due to the rupture of the system.
How did the breakdown of the relocation pipeline change the views of the United States, especially among affected Afghans but also largely?
For many Afghans, it is worse than withdrawal. It took several years to build and put sustainable reception on the scale, but it was holding our promises to our allies, up to 5,000 per month. The brutal collapse of the relocation process resembles another betrayal of the United States after two decades of partnership, they are now blocked – some actively hunted by the Taliban. This has broken confidence in America’s commitments, strengthening the idea that the United States abandons its allies when it becomes politically embarrassing.
Beyond Afghanistan, this change of policy sends a dangerous signal to American partners around the world. Whether in Ukraine, Africa or Indo-Pacific, people working alongside American forces are watching him closely. If the United States cannot follow its promises to protect those who risk its lives for us, it will be much more difficult to build alliances in future conflicts.
Have you seen signs of which the Trump administration is aware – or cares about – the impact of its policies on the Afghans who helped the United States during its mission in Afghanistan?
Until now, no significant recognition has come from the administration concerning the direct impact of these policies on the Afghan allies. In fact, a large part of public rhetoric suggests indifference or even hostility towards Afghan refugees, which surprised me by President Trump’s campaign in Afghanistan. Every day at the RNC [Republican National Convention] He appeared and he spoke about it with each debate.
Some officials may recognize the damage caused in private, but there was no political effort to remedy it. Administration could restore sustainable welcome, reopen the treatment of refugees or allocate emergency funding to support Afghans in third countries. Instead, they chose to stop these programs without explanation – a decision that seems politically motivated rather than based on security or logistical concerns.
What can the Americans concerned to help?
Americans who care to honor our commitments to the Afghan allies can act in several ways:
Contact your representatives: Call or write to the members of the Congress and urge them to put the administration to restore admissions of refugees and sustainable refugees. Bipartisan support exists for Afghan allies, but political will must be mobilized.
Support organizations helping the allies in wartime: We always help Afghans sail in the system. Donations and volunteer efforts make a tangible difference.
Push for the support of local resettlement: If your community is home to new Afghan newcomers, get involved in local efforts to provide accommodation, professional assistance or mentoring. A solid American resettlement network strengthens the case of reopening of the pipeline.
To raise awareness: Share stories, write publishers and engage on social networks. Many Americans do not realize how many politicians have changed or how many Afghans are still waiting for help.
America’s credibility is at stake. It’s not just a group of people – it’s about knowing if the United States is assisted by those who have risked everything for us. The fight is far from over and public pressure can help reverse these harmful policies.