Media reports say Trump’s pause on foreign aid has led to the suspension of flights for over 40,000 Afghans approved for special US visas and at risk of Taliban retribution.
Most of those affected by Trump’s decision are stranded in Afghanistan, with others in Pakistan, Qatar and Albania, Shawn VanDiver, head of the AfghanEvac coalition of US veterans and advocacy groups, told Reuters on January 25.
The order reportedly also prompted the US State Department to suspend funding for groups that assist Afghans with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) in finding housing, schools and jobs in the United States.
The U.S. Vice President, J.D. Vance, in an interview with CBS, firmly defended Donald Trump’s decision to suspend the Afghan refugee resettlement program. He stated that the security screening of some refugees before entering the United States was inadequate and raised concerns.
In his first media appearance after taking office, Vance was repeatedly questioned about the suspension of the refugee transfer program. He strongly supported Trump’s decision, arguing that there is evidence suggesting some individuals had intentions of carrying out terrorist attacks.
Vance reportedly referred to the case of Nasir Ahmad Tohidi, an Afghan refugee in Oklahoma accused of planning a terrorist attack on election day. He pointed to this case as proof that the refugee screening process was flawed.
He further stated that many refugee programs face quality assurance issues and emphasized that thousands of people cannot be admitted to the U.S. without thorough scrutiny.
According to Reuters, nearly 200,000 Afghans have been resettled in the US with SIVs or as refugees since 2021. Trump’s victorious 2024 re-election campaign included promises of strict immigration policies.
