The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Ends Under Trump's Executive Order

THE U.S. REFUGEE ADMISSIONS PROGRAM ENDS UNDER TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDER

By Allison Kirschbaum

President Donald Trump cut ties to the program for the safety of Afghan people in accessing safe space in America. Now, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, a promise by Trump to give a secure life and start a new life for the Afghan people, has been suppressed. Afghans are now in a state of limbo and are seeking temporary refuge in another location.

Trump's Executive Order Leaves Afghan Allies in Limbo

Donald Trump signed an executive order for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program effective immediately on January 27, 2025. This order suspends the Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) in seeking safe space within the boundaries of the U.S.

An Afghan refugee named Roshangar stated that he was shocked due to the long wait he had been enduring for years regarding the refugees but ended up with nothing. The same goes for most of the Afghan people, whose chances of getting home have vanished even though the history of the alliance between the U.S. and Afghanistan is evident to this day.

Despite this, many Afghan refugees are hoping that the administration's consideration may grant them the promise of Trump to give them the freedom to a safe space in the United States of America.

The Struggle of Stranded Afghans

About 1,600 Afghans were struggling after the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Many Afghan refugees are waiting to transfer to the U.S., including the refugees stranded in Albania, Pakistan, and Qatar. Others are still hiding in the Taliban in Afghanistan, and are having a hard time being left in limbo.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty this week, a stranded refugee in Pakistan named Humayan Bayat stated that he was left vulnerable at times when he expected to have asylum in the U.S.

Despite the number of Afghan refugees fleeing to the U.S., certain measures must be strictly followed, and they must undergo an extensive process requiring a referral from someone they have worked with, including background checks, medical screening, and interviews with U.S. authorities.

Afghan Refugees Forced to Flee

According to UNHCR, "four-decade have passed overcoming the conflict and instability of Afghanistan, but still require a need of humanitarian and protection for over a half of the population including women in their nations."

Conflict from natural disasters, chronic poverty, food security, and the change of authorities in the government resulted in Afghanistan as one of the largest seeking asylum around the world.

Globally, Afghan refugees ranked 3rd as Syrian and Ukrainian refugees are in the top 2 countries who are still needing asylum assistance as refugees. Nearly 10.9 million Afghans continued to forcefully flee to countries offering temporary asylum, such as Iran, as a key destination for the refugees.

"With an estimation of 28% or about 12.4 million of the population is expected to suffer from consuming contaminated food and experience emergency levels of hunger of Afghans people," according to an article by UNHCR. Leaving no choice for the people of Afghanistan to seek assistance from other countries such as the U.S. and Iran.

Humanitarian Issues and the International Reaction

Many internationals expressed their deep concerns and disappointment following the executive order of Trump regarding their alliance with Afghanistan.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Amnesty International are fighting to give a chance of consideration to their stance and not just leave the Afghan refugees in limbo. They believe that Afghan refugees do not deserve to be left behind, given that there is a good relationship between the history of the war in the U.S. and Afghanistan.

Despite the shared reaction of international audiences and human rights organizations, the decision to end the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program remains unchanged.

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