Sat Feb 01 05:55:39 IST 2025: ## Trump’s New Orders Leave Afghan Allies in Limbo, Advocates Say
**Washington, DC** – The resettlement of Afghans who aided the US military during its two-decade presence in Afghanistan is facing significant hurdles following President Trump’s new executive orders, according to advocates. These orders, characterized as broad and sweeping, have effectively halted or severely hampered several key programs designed to support Afghan refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients.
The story of Ruqia Balkhi and her husband, Mohammed Aref Mangal, exemplifies the problem. While Balkhi received crucial resettlement services upon her arrival in the US in September 2023, her husband, arriving later, found those services abruptly ended due to the administration’s tightened restrictions on federal funding and immigration.
Advocates argue that these actions directly contradict bipartisan support for assisting Afghan allies. While veteran organizations largely favor bringing Afghans to safety, Trump’s executive orders have paused the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and halted foreign aid, severely impacting the SIV program for those who worked with the US military.
The consequences are dire. Funding cuts have stopped relocation flights run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), leaving many stranded abroad, and vital services like medical care, food, and legal support have been gutted. The cessation of “reception and placement services” in the US further exacerbates the crisis, potentially creating life-threatening situations for vulnerable evacuees.
Beyond SIV recipients, pathways for Afghan refugees under categories P1, P2, and family unification have also been closed, halting resettlement efforts altogether.
This situation is particularly concerning given the extensive bipartisan support for Afghan resettlement. Polls consistently show strong public backing for assisting these allies, including significant support within the veteran community, a demographic that leans conservative.
While some, like Shawn VanDiver of #AfghanEvac, express cautious optimism that Trump might revise his approach, others, including James Powers, voice deeper concerns, highlighting the influence of immigration hardliner Stephen Miller within the administration.
The abrupt halt to programs developed over years of bipartisan effort and the Biden administration’s expansion of SIV and refugee admissions (increasing SIVs from 10,000 to 33,000 and refugee admissions from 1,618 to 14,708 between 2022 and 2024) raises serious concerns about the future of Afghan resettlement under the current administration. Advocates are calling for a reversal of these policies, emphasizing the humanitarian and moral imperative of supporting those who risked their lives assisting the US.
First Piper 