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Barriers to Afghan Wartime Allies Relocation

Refugee & Visa Pathways

  • Refugee Ban (EO 14163, Jan 20, 2025) – Halted global refugee processing, including Afghan P1/P2/P3/P4 USRAP cases. Thousands of Afghans already vetted and staged abroad remain stranded.

  • Foreign Aid Pause (EO 14169, Jan 20, 2025) – Halted all relocation overseas platform operations and relocation flights. Stopped all CARE flights.

  • Presidential Proclamation 10949 (June 4, 2025) – Suspends entry for nationals of Afghanistan (and 18 other countries). Family reunification, fiancé visas, humanitarian visas, and refugee pathways are effectively blocked. There are some exemptions, including SIV and immediate family members of American Citizens.

  • Presidential Determination (Sept 30, 2025) – Refugee admissions capped at 7,500 for FY26. The majority of these slots are designated for Afrikaners, leaving Afghans with little to no access. ON HOLD PENDING CONGRESSIONAL CONSULTATION

  • End of Enduring Welcome – The program that moved 5,000 Afghans per month safely and legally was dismantled and defunded. All processing platforms were shut down, with the exception of Doha which is only operating until all people there get final case disposition. No replacement system exists.

Legal Status in the U.S.

  • Parole Protections Ending – Afghans paroled in through Operation Allies Welcome or CBP One are seeing protections expire with no adjustment pathway. Many are sliding into undocumented status.

  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Expired – DHS allowed TPS for Afghans to lapse, despite ongoing violence. Tens of thousands now face deportation risk.

  • Family Reunification Stalled – More than 15,000 Afghan children, spouses, and parents remain separated due to visa bans and consular inaction.

  • Adjustments of Status Delayed – Immigration enforcement is being prioritized over the processing of cases.

Detention & Enforcement

  • ICE Detentions – Afghan evacuees cleared by the U.S. government are now being detained under spurious “counterterrorism” flags. Many have no charges against them.

  • Targeting of Parolees – ICE has focused on Afghans who entered via CBP One without inspection and evacuees still awaiting status.

  • Due Process Violations – Federal courts have found that ICE arresting Afghans outside immigration court violates due process. Yet detentions continue.

Abroad & In Limbo

  • Camp As Sayliyah (Qatar) – 1200 Afghans remain trapped in U.S. custody, most of them vetted women and families.

  • Pakistan Deportations – Despite U.S. assurances, Afghans awaiting resettlement—including those with legal visas—are being deported back to Taliban control.

  • Global Stranding – More than 250,000 Afghans are stuck in 90+ countries worldwide, waiting for the U.S. to act.

Human Infrastructure Collapsed

  • Termination of CARE – The congressionally authorized Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts was dismantled, leaving no leadership or system.

  • Reception & Placement Gap – Refugee reception funding was paused, stranding families and halting self-sufficiency programs for new arrivals.

Bottom Line

The U.S. made a promise to Afghan allies. Instead, refugee caps, visa bans, expiring protections, ICE detentions, and deportations have left tens of thousands in danger. AfghanEvac and partners are fighting back through Battle Buddies, advocacy, litigation, and direct support—but without policy change, lives will continue to be lost.

Learn more at https://go.afghanevac.org/primer