U.S. asylum Process for Afghans Effectively Halted, Leaving Vulnerable Individuals in Peril
WASHINGTON D.C. – A recent pause in U.S. migration, coupled with previous restrictions enacted during the Trump administration, has left Afghan nationals who aided American forces or openly criticized the Taliban in a precarious situation, facing increased danger and uncertainty. NPR’s reporting reveals a system that, while extensively vetting applicants, is now largely stalled, leaving thousands in limbo and vulnerable to the repressive Taliban regime.
The current halt builds on policies initiated under the trump administration that sought to limit the admission of Afghan nationals, citing vetting concerns. Though, Afghans who have spent years navigating the application process dispute these claims, detailing a rigorous and exhaustive vetting procedure.
Roshangar, an Afghan who worked alongside U.S. forces,described his three-year application process,which included multiple interviews and requests for detailed personal information spanning a decade. “So they are asking about my background, about my family members, about my wife, my wife’s family, my job, my first job and my second job, my email addresses, my address of livings,” he told NPR. he was scheduled for a fourth interview when the process was suspended.
The suspension has dire consequences for those awaiting resettlement. many are forced to live in hiding, facing threats from the Taliban. Najib Paiykan, a former journalist now living in hiding in Turkey, drew a parallel between the Taliban’s collective punishment and actions taken by other regimes. (Speaking From) – a statement interpreted by NPR’s Diaa Hadid as questioning the justification for punishing entire families for the actions of one individual.
The situation is further complex by recent deportations from Pakistan. Surayya (ph), a woman who was preparing to relocate to the U.S., was deported with her daughters in June and now lives under Taliban rule, where girls are banned from education beyond the sixth grade. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been forcibly deported from Pakistan this year, including individuals previously approved for U.S. resettlement.
Advocates like Shawn VanDiver from AfghanEvac maintain that the existing vetting process is “extensively and exhaustively” thorough. He argues that any shortcomings in the system should be addressed, but cautions against judging the entire population based on the actions of a single individual.
The halt in migration leaves Afghans like Roshangar facing a bleak future.he expressed his struggles, stating, “I have a teeth problem. I can’t go to dentist. My son is out of school for four years. we are living in uncertainty under the Taliban repressive regime.”
The NPR report highlights the human cost of the paused migration process, leaving vulnerable Afghans trapped in a cycle of uncertainty and fear.
