Numerous Afghans provided crucial assistance to the United States during our 20-year war in Afghanistan, partnering with American troops and the U.S. government in opposing the Taliban. Some of these Afghans are also Christians.
Yet now their lives and livelihoods are at risk because of three executive orders (EO) issued by the Trump administration. These EOs have halted key immigration pipelines, pipelines that were developed after the Biden administration’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Moreover, advocates fear that as soon as next week, Afghanistan will be added to a list of countries whose citizens will be banned from entering the U.S., no matter what visa they hold.
“As people of faith, and particularly in this present cultural and political moment, it’s on us to be the leaders on these issues, particularly because of the support that President Trump has had in the evangelical and faith communities,” said Kami Rice, cofounder of Allied Shepherd, a group that provides humanitarian aid to at-risk Afghans. “If we think this matters, we need to make sure that he hears that, and we need to be leaders on this issue particularly.”
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Afghan Refugees—American Allies—Are in Danger
On Jan. 20, President Trump signed an EO suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), an EO pausing foreign aid, and an EO requiring the secretary of State, secretary of Homeland Security, and director of National Intelligence to create a report identifying countries that have an inadequate vetting processes.
Reuters reported yesterday (March 6) that insiders say Afghanistan will likely be added to this list and that all Afghans will therefore be banned from entering the U.S.
Rice is a journalist, as well as editor-in-chief of Anthrow Circus. The organization she cofounded, Allied Shepherd, is a member of the Afghan Evac Coalition. Rice explained two situations by which Afghans make it to the U.S., emphasizing that for Afghans who do not have the option to get visas via other situations, such work or marriage, it is not possible for anyone to simply apply for entry into our country.
One pathway is that Afghans can apply for a special immigrant visa (SIV). An Afghan who wishes to apply for such a visa has to have worked for the U.S. government for a year.
What that work entailed could be “a range of things,” said Rice. It could be anything from Afghans working as electricians on a military base to Afghans risking their lives by going ahead of Green Berets to remove land mines.
Some Afghans worked as interpreters and went into combat with American troops. “Different people were in different levels of danger,” said Rice. However, “all of those people had to be vetted in order to be on the bases and work for the U.S. government,” and they were “necessary” for the work the U.S. was doing in Afghanistan.
Therefore, when qualifying Afghans apply for an SIV, they have already been vetted for their work for the American government; they subsequently go through additional vetting in the visa application process.
