In the first week of his second term, President Donald Trump of the United States issued a series of executive orders that had a significant impact on the Afghans, a group already facing numerous challenges.
One of the executive orders that Trump signed during his inauguration was a complete halt on U.S. aid. This order, titled “Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,” put a stop to all aid to foreign countries and non-governmental organizations, along with international organizations and contractors. The order suggests that U.S. foreign aid destabilizes global peace by promoting concepts in foreign countries that are contrary to harmonious and stable relations.
Another executive order issued on inauguration day, “Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,” suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) from January 27, effectively ending refugee admissions and applications. The order claims that the United States is unable to accommodate large numbers of migrants and refugees without jeopardizing resources for Americans and their security.
The ripple effects of these two orders led to the suspension of the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program along with the halt on USRAP. Immigration to the United States is notoriously difficult, but the executive orders have left Afghans who had already been approved for SIVs stranded during various stages of the application process.
Shawn VanDiver, the president and board chairman of #AfghanEvac, said the executive orders have turned a bureaucratic decision into a humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Afghans who supported the United States are now stranded, lacking food, medical care, and a way forward.
The halt on foreign aid has particularly affected NGOs that support Afghans in the resettlement process. These organizations help Afghans find housing and jobs, enroll their children in school, find healthcare, and integrate into American life. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has yet to issue any waivers to allow specific programs to continue.
According to #AfghanEvac, the executive orders have left more than 2,400 Afghans, including SIV holders, refugees, and over 1,100 children without access to basic necessities. Education programs for women and girls still stuck in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime bans them from education and most work, have also been halted.
The executive orders have led to a breakdown in resettlement programs. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) can no longer issue flight loans, which are essential for helping evacuees book travel to their final destinations. This leaves Afghans who were already approved for resettlement in the United States effectively trapped in their current country of residence.
The Trump administration has yet to comment on the situation of Afghans who risked their lives assisting the United States during the 20-year war in Afghanistan. Some Afghans had hoped that Trump’s choice of Afghan War veteran Michael Waltz as his national security adviser signaled a commitment to not abandon U.S. allies in Afghanistan. However, these allies remain stuck despite Trump’s presidency.
