Trump canceled travel to the U.S. for refugees, upsetting thousands of those already approved.
Ahead of next week’s deadline to end the US refugee resettlement program, the Trump administration has canceled the travel plans of refugees who had been cleared to travel to the US.
Thousands of refugees who have fled war and persecution to start a new life in America are now being held hostage in various parts of the world. This includes more than 1,600 Afghans who have helped the US war effort, as well as relatives of active duty US soldiers.
US President Donald Trump ended the program this week as part of a series of executive orders to curb immigration. The move left open the possibility that migrants who were screened to come to the U.S. and booked flights before Monday’s deadline could go under the wire.
But in an email sent on Tuesday and reviewed by The Associated Press, the U.S. Immigration and Refugee Board told staff and stakeholders that “immigrants arriving in the United States are suspended until further notice.”
There are more than 10,000 refugees around the world who have gone through the lengthy immigration process and have travel plans in the next few weeks, according to a document obtained by the AP. It is not yet known how many of those are scheduled to arrive by the upcoming deadline.
This includes more than 1,600 Afghans who have been approved to come to the US as part of a program set up after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Many veterans of America’s longest war have tried for years to find asylum in America, along with their families.
“The Trump administration’s early termination of refugee flights is shocking, leaving thousands of Afghan allies in fear and uncertainty,” said Shawn Vandiver, a Navy veteran and leader of #AfghanEvac, which supports Afghan resettlement efforts.
“We stand ready to partner to fix this and encourage open communication with affected families. Let’s keep our promises and uphold American values.”
There is a different route – the Special Immigrant Visa Program – specifically for Afghans who work directly with the US government. Vandiver’s group said the program established by Congress does not appear to be affected at this time.
“Tragedy for the families.”
Trump’s order, signed Monday, was issued a week before the State Department began halting all procedures and travel. It wasn’t immediately clear what prompted the change, but the timing seems high.
The State Department referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Agencies that help immigrants settle and settle in America have argued that it is the legal form of immigration that Trump and his supporters say they love.
“This sudden end to the influx of refugees is devastating for families who have endured years of unimaginable hardship and have waited for years to rebuild their lives safely,” said Krish Omara Vignarajah, head of Global Refugees, one of 10 U.S. resettlement agencies. In a statement on Wednesday.
US President Donald Trump’s administration on Tuesday reversed a Biden-era directive that would have limited immigration detention, including schools, hospitals and churches. Jason House, a former immigration official during the Biden administration, said this could put more pressure on enforcement resources.
“Immigrants go through one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the world, and many are now seeing their travel canceled days or even hours before they’re ready to start a new life in the United States,” she said. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking.”
Immigrants are different from people who come directly to the US-Mexico border with the ultimate goal of seeking asylum. Refugees must be living outside the US to qualify for resettlement and are usually referred to the State Department by the United Nations.
While the resettlement program has historically enjoyed bipartisan support, the first Trump administration has reduced the number of immigrants entering the country each year after it temporarily halted resettlement.