Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has frozen refugee admissions and foreign aid, part of twin promises to reduce migration (both legal and illegal) to the United States and cut supposed government waste. However, those policies have combined to sever an already thin lifeline for an extremely vulnerable group: Afghans who assisted the United States prior to the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021. These Afghan allies, as well as their families, face persecution, arrest, or even murder from the Taliban regime. To many, fleeing the country is their only chance – but new U.S. policies have made an already difficult bureaucratic process for relocating to the United States effectively impossible.
#AfghanEvac represents a coalition of over 250 non-governmental organizations working to advocate for Afghan allies. In this interview, Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, discusses the impact of the refugee and foreign aid freeze on the relocation pipeline for Afghan allies – and the humanitarian and geopolitical cost abandoning these Afghans.
“For many Afghans, this is worse than the withdrawal,” VanDiver said. “…The abrupt collapse of the relocation process feels like yet another betrayal by the U.S.”
Can you explain generally how the process works for Afghan allies seeking to relocate to the United States?
The process for Afghan allies to relocate to the U.S. has multiple pathways, but the two primary ones are the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The SIV program is for Afghans who worked directly with the U.S. military or government, while USRAP’s Priority 1 (P-1) and Priority 2 (P-2) categories provide options for others facing persecution due to their U.S. affiliations.
Each pathway involves extensive vetting, security screenings, and processing by multiple U.S. agencies. Once approved, Afghans are either flown to the U.S. or processed through third-country locations. However, backlogs, bureaucratic delays, and inconsistent policies have left tens of thousands of allies in limbo – some for years.
How have the Trump administration’s policies – particularly the foreign aid freeze and pause on refugee admissions – impacted these steps?
The Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze and pause on refugee admissions have significantly disrupted an already fragile relocation system. The immediate impact was a shutdown of the Enduring Welcome program, which had been facilitating relocations for at-risk Afghans. This means Afghans who were mid-process – some even having completed security vetting – are now stranded.
The refugee pause also halted P-1 and P-2 processing, effectively cutting off a key pathway for vulnerable Afghans, including women leaders, journalists, and human rights advocates. Additionally, the State Department’s funding freeze has restricted support for Afghans waiting in third countries, leaving them without housing, food assistance, or legal aid to continue their cases.
These changes have drastically reduced the number of Afghans able to reach safety, creating a backlog that will take years to clear – if the program is ever reinstated.
How many Afghans are being affected?
More than 195,000 Afghans have been relocated since 2021, but tens of thousands remain in limbo. Estimates suggest at least 250,000 Afghans, including our allies and their families, are still waiting, with thousands more who haven’t even been able to apply due to the system’s breakdown.
How has the breaking of the relocation pipeline changed views of the United States, particularly among the Afghans affected but also more broadly?
For many Afghans, this is worse than the withdrawal. It took several years to build and scale Enduring Welcome, but it was keeping our promises to our allies, to the tune of 5,000 a month. The abrupt collapse of the relocation process feels like yet another betrayal by the U.S. After two decades of partnership, they are now left stranded – some actively hunted by the Taliban. This has shattered trust in America’s commitments, reinforcing the idea that the U.S. abandons its allies when it becomes politically inconvenient.
Beyond Afghanistan, this policy shift sends a dangerous signal to U.S. partners worldwide. Whether in Ukraine, Africa, or the Indo-Pacific, people who work alongside American forces are watching this closely. If the U.S. cannot follow through on its promises to protect those who risk their lives for us, it will be much harder to build alliances in future conflicts.
Have you seen any signs that the Trump administration is aware of – or cares about – the impact of its policies on Afghans who assisted the United States during its mission in Afghanistan?
So far, no meaningful acknowledgment has come from the administration regarding the direct impact of these policies on Afghan allies. In fact, much of the public rhetoric suggests indifference or even hostility toward Afghan refugees, which was a surprise to me given how much President Trump campaigned on Afghanistan. Every day at the RNC [Republican National Convention] it came up and he brought it up at every debate.
Some officials may privately recognize the harm being done, but there has been no policy effort to address it. The administration could reinstate Enduring Welcome, reopen refugee processing, or allocate emergency funding to support Afghans in third countries. Instead, they have chosen to halt these programs without explanation – a decision that appears politically motivated rather than based on security or logistical concerns.
What can concerned Americans do to help?
Americans who care about honoring our commitments to Afghan allies can take action in several ways:
Contact Your Representatives: Call or write to members of Congress and urge them to pressure the administration to reinstate Enduring Welcome and restart refugee admissions. Bipartisan support exists for Afghan allies, but political will must be mobilized.
Support Organizations helping Wartime Allies: We are still helping Afghans navigate the system. Donations and volunteer efforts make a tangible difference.
Push for Local Resettlement Support: If your community is home to Afghan newcomers, get involved in local efforts to provide housing, job assistance, or mentorship. A strong U.S. resettlement network strengthens the case for reopening the pipeline.
Raise Awareness: Share stories, write op-eds, and engage on social media. Many Americans don’t realize how drastically policies have changed or how many Afghans are still waiting for help.
America’s credibility is on the line. This is not just about one group of people – it’s about whether the U.S. stands by those who risked everything for us. The fight is far from over, and public pressure can help reverse these harmful policies.
