Thousands of Afghans who worked for or with the US government in Afghanistan are facing uncertainty and a cutoff from critical resources following moves by the Trump administration to halt foreign aid and bar federally funded assistance.
The halt in foreign aid and refugee flights has had an immediate impact on those who worked alongside the US military, with sources reporting that many have lost access to basic necessities such as diapers and toiletries. Thousands of Afghans are currently stuck in third countries, awaiting onward travel to the US, with many facing significant financial challenges and others being forced to return to Afghanistan where they risk retaliation from the Taliban.
The halt on foreign assistance also affects Afghans who were eligible for special immigrant visas (SIVs), including translators who worked for the US military and those who were on US bases or compounds. Around 3,000 Afghans are currently in Qatar and 500 in Albania, waiting for onward travel to the US, with an expected 40,000 SIV recipients expected to be impacted.
Organizations working to relocate Afghan allies are urging the administration to exempt those who helped the US from the freeze in services, and within the administration, conversations are ongoing about what, if anything, can be done to carve out those Afghans who helped the US abroad.
