The Trump administration canceled the travel plans of refugees who had been approved to travel to the United States ahead of next week’s deadline that suspends the U.S. refugee resettlement program.
Thousands of refugees who fled war and persecution and who had gone through a sometimes years-long process to start a new life in the United States are now stranded in various places around the world. That includes more than 1,600 Afghans who helped in the U.S. war effort, as well as family members of active-duty U.S. military personnel.
US President Donald Trump suspended the program this week as part of a series of executive orders to combat immigration. His move had left open the possibility that refugees who had been vetted to come to the United States and had flights booked before Monday’s deadline could slip through the cracks.
But in an email dated Tuesday and reviewed by The Associated Press, the U.S. agency that oversees refugee processing and arrivals told staff and stakeholders that “refugee arrivals to the United States have been suspended until further notice.” .
There are just over 10,000 refugees from around the world who had already gone through the lengthy refugee admissions process and had trips scheduled in the coming weeks, according to a document obtained by the AP. It was not immediately clear how many of them were due to arrive before the next deadline.
Among them are more than 1,600 Afghans authorized to come to the United States as part of the program that the Biden administration established after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Many veterans of America’s longest war have tried for years to help the Afghans they worked with, as well as their families, find refuge in the United States. Many were prepared for a suspension of the resettlement program but hoped for special consideration for the Afghans.
“The Trump administration’s early pause on refugee flights is alarming and leaves thousands of Afghan allies in fear and uncertainty,” said Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and head of #AfghanEvac, a coalition supporting Afghan resettlement efforts.
“We stand ready to partner to solve this problem and urge clear communication with affected families. Let us honor our promises and stand up for America’s values.”
There is a separate track, the special immigrant visa program, specifically for Afghans who worked directly with the US government. VanDiver’s group said the program, established by Congress, did not appear to be affected at this time.
“Devastating for families”
Trump’s order signed Monday had given the State Department a week before starting to halt all processing and travel. The timing appears to have moved forward, although it was not immediately clear what prompted the change.
The State Department referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Agencies that help refugees settle and adjust to life in the United States have argued that this is the type of legal immigration that Trump and his supporters say they like and have pointed to strict background checks and sometimes years-long waits that refugees endure.
“This abrupt halt to refugee admissions is devastating for families who have already endured unimaginable hardship and waited years for the opportunity to rebuild their lives in safety,” said Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, director of Global Refuge, a of the 10 US resettlement agencies. he said in a statement Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday revoked Biden-era guidelines that limited immigration arrests near sensitive locations, including schools, hospitals and churches. Jason Houser, a former top immigration official during the Biden administration, says that will likely put more pressure on law enforcement resources.
“Refugees go through one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the world, and many now have their trips canceled just days, or even hours, before starting their new life in the United States,” he said. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
Refugees are different from people who arrive directly at the US-Mexico border with the goal of seeking asylum in the future. Refugees must live outside the U.S. to be considered for resettlement and are typically referred to the State Department by the United Nations.
While the resettlement program has historically had bipartisan support, the first Trump administration also temporarily halted resettlement and then reduced the number of refugees who could enter the country annually.
