President Trump's order to halt foreign aid for 90 days has resulted in the suspension of flights for over 40,000 Afghans approved for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), putting them at risk of Taliban retribution. The pause in aid has created chaos in U.S. and international aid operations and halted crucial programs.
President Donald Trump 's recent directive to pause all foreign aid for 90 days has created a significant disruption in U.S. resettlement efforts for Afghan allies, leading to the suspension of flights for over 40,000 Afghans who have been approved for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). These individuals, many of whom risked their lives working with the United States during the 20-year war, are now facing heightened danger of Taliban retribution.
Most of the stranded Afghans are currently located in Afghanistan, with others scattered in Pakistan, Qatar, and Albania. Shawn VanDiver, the head of #AfghanEvac, a prominent coalition of veterans and advocacy groups collaborating with the U.S. government on Afghan evacuation and resettlement, revealed this alarming situation. The halt in foreign aid, triggered by President Trump's desire to review efficiencies and align aid with his 'America First' agenda, has sent shockwaves through U.S. and international aid operations. Experts and advocacy groups warn that this pause has created chaos, effectively halting crucial nutrition, health, vaccination, and other vital programs. Furthermore, the State Department has suspended funding for organizations that assist SIV holders with finding housing, education, and employment in the United States, compounding the challenges faced by these vulnerable individuals.VanDiver expressed his belief that the flight suspension was unintentional and urged the administration to grant exemptions for Afghans approved for SIVs, emphasizing their service and sacrifices alongside U.S. forces. He highlighted that tens of thousands more Afghans are awaiting SIV application processing. Reports from the United Nations mission in Afghanistan paint a grim picture, documenting Taliban detentions, torture, and killings of former soldiers and officials who served in the U.S.-backed government. While the Taliban has issued a general amnesty and denies these allegations, the flight suspension leaves over 40,000 Afghans, including SIV holders, stranded in precarious situations. This group includes individuals waiting to fly from visa processing centers in Qatar and Albania, as well as those in Afghanistan and Pakistan awaiting placement on U.S.-funded flights to these processing centers. Nearly 200,000 Afghans have been resettled in the U.S. through SIVs or as refugees since the chaotic 2021 U.S. withdrawal. Adding to the complexity, President Trump signed an executive order shortly after his inauguration suspending all U.S. refugee resettlement programs, resulting in hundreds of Afghan refugees losing their flight seats, including family members of active-duty Afghan American military personnel, former Afghan soldiers, and unaccompanied children
AFGHANISTAN TALIBAN FOREIGN AID SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS REFUGEES DONALD TRUMP UNITED STATES U.S. WITHDRAWAL HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump supports immigration visas backed by Musk: 'I have many H-1B visas on my properties'Musk and Ramaswamy said it’s necessary for companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers because there aren't enough qualified Americans.
Read more »
Scores of Afghans have left for the US after their visas were processed in the PhilippinesThe U.S. Embassy in the Philippines says that nearly 200 Afghan nationals have been flown on to the United States after having their special immigration visas processed in the Philippines.
Read more »
Trump Refugee Order Could Leave 2,000 Afghans in LimboPresident Trump's executive order to suspend the US refugee program could impact at least 2,000 Afghans who have been approved to resettle in the US, according to AfghanEvac, a major Afghan advocacy organization. The order, which suspends refugee admissions for at least 90 days, could leave families of US service members and those who have already relocated to the US in uncertainty.
Read more »
Trump Advisers Spark Backlash Over H-1B VisasComments from two incoming Trump advisors about H-1B visas have ignited a firestorm, exposing a rift between the president-elect's right-wing base and his tech allies.
Read more »
MAGA Supporters Clash with Trump's Incoming Administration Over H-1B VisasA debate on H-1B work visas has sparked controversy within the MAGA movement, with supporters clashing with newly appointed members of Donald Trump's incoming administration, including Vivek Ramaswamy, Elon Musk, and Sriram Krishnan.
Read more »
Musk and Ramaswamy Clash with Trump Supporters Over H-1B VisasElon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, co-chairs of President-elect Donald Trump's 'Department of Government Efficiency,' have sparked controversy by advocating for H-1B visas, which allow foreign skilled workers to work in the US. Their stance has drawn criticism from some far-right Trump supporters who view the visas as a way for businesses to exploit cheap labor instead of creating opportunities for Americans. Ramaswamy and Musk have defended H-1B visas on the grounds that American culture does not prioritize scientific and engineering excellence.
Read more »