Doruk Aksel Anıl
A forthcoming travel ban proposed by President Donald Trump may prevent individuals from Afghanistan and Pakistan from entering the United States as early as next week, according to three sources familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
These sources indicated that additional countries might also be included in the ban, although they were unable to specify which ones.
This action recalls the travel restrictions imposed during Trump’s first term, which affected travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations. That policy underwent several revisions before being upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. Former President Joe Biden, a Democrat who succeeded Trump, rescinded the ban in 2021, describing it as a blemish on the nation’s moral standing.
The proposed ban could significantly impact tens of thousands of Afghans who have been approved for resettlement in the US as refugees or through Special Immigrant Visas, as they face potential retaliation from the Taliban for their collaboration with US forces during the two-decade conflict in Afghanistan.
On January 20, Trump issued an executive order mandating enhanced security vetting for foreigners seeking entry into the US to identify national security threats. This order instructed various cabinet members to provide a list by March 12 of countries from which travel should be partially or entirely restricted due to inadequate vetting and screening processes.
According to the sources, Afghanistan is expected to be included in the list of countries recommended for a complete travel ban, with Pakistan also likely to be suggested for inclusion. The departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security, along with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which are overseeing this initiative, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A source has indicated that Afghans approved for resettlement in the United States, whether as refugees or through special visas, undergo rigorous screening processes that render them “more highly vetted than any population” globally.
The State Department office responsible for their resettlement is pursuing an exemption from the travel ban for Special Immigrant Visa holders; however, the likelihood of this exemption being granted is considered low, according to the source.
This office, known as the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, has been instructed to formulate a closure plan by April, as reported by Reuters last month.
The Taliban, who took control of Kabul following the withdrawal of the last US troops in August 2021 after two decades of conflict, are now facing an insurgency from the regional branch of the Islamic State. Additionally, Pakistan is dealing with violent Islamist militant activities.
Trump’s directive is part of a broader immigration enforcement initiative that he initiated at the beginning of his second term.
In an October 2023 address, he outlined his strategy, which includes restrictions on individuals from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and “anywhere else that threatens our security.”
Shawn VanDiver, the leader of #AfghanEvac, a coalition that facilitates the evacuation and resettlement of Afghans in collaboration with the US government, has urged those with valid US visas to travel as soon as possible if feasible.
“Although no official announcement has been made, several sources within the US government indicate that new travel restrictions may be enacted within the coming week,” he stated.
This development “could significantly affect Afghan visa holders who have been waiting for relocation” to the United States, he added. Approximately 200,000 Afghans have been approved for resettlement in the US or have pending applications for refugee status and Special Immigrant Visas.
Since January 20, when Trump mandated a 90-day suspension on refugee admissions and foreign aid that supports their transportation, these individuals have been stranded in Afghanistan and nearly 90 other countries, including around 20,000 in Pakistan.
