US narrows protection and entry routes for Afghans — The Hill
The administration of US President Donald Trump has narrowed opportunities for Afghans to obtain protection or come to the United States and is also taking steps that could facilitate the deportation of those already in the country. This was reported by The Hill ahead of the fifth anniversary of the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.
The US Department of Homeland Security has begun the process of ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans. This status protected more than 8,000 people from deportation. The administration is also reviewing the grounds for issuing certain Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) to Afghans who worked with the US military and government agencies as interpreters, special operations partners, or embassy employees.
Restrictions for those seeking protection
Afghanistan has been added to the list of countries whose citizens face restrictions on the issuance of tourist visas. According to the publication, an expanded version of the entry ban removed narrow exceptions that allowed Afghan SIV applications to be considered. The White House has also suspended the processing of refugee applications, with the exception of white South Africans.
Some Afghans evacuated to the United States during Operation Allies Welcome do not meet the requirements for SIVs, including the requirement of two years of qualifying work experience. As a result, they are forced to apply for asylum, the consideration of which may take a long time and does not guarantee a favorable decision.
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Sean VanDiver, founder of the #AfghanEvac organization, said that about 260,000 Afghans remain in an uncertain situation in about 90 countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Qatar. According to him, they are waiting for the United States to fulfill the promise made to them.
Deportations and legislative initiatives
VanDiver also drew attention to the case of a 24-year-old man identified in court documents as K.Y. An immigration judge granted him protection from removal to Afghanistan, recognizing the risk of persecution. At the same time, the man faces deportation to the Central African Republic, where, the US State Department warns, armed groups control a significant part of the territory.
Republican Congressman Don Bacon, a veteran of service in Afghanistan, supports a bill to extend TPS for Afghans until 2029. He called it a temporary solution and advocated creating a path to permanent status and citizenship for this category of people.
The Taliban controls Afghanistan, and women who were previously able to study and build careers are now excluded from most areas of public life. According to Joseph Azam, chair of the Afghan-American Foundation board, Afghan women are the ones who most often speak about losing hope.
