When the news of the Trump administration made the travel ban, and the news included the inclusion of Afghanistan on the list, the phone of Nagina Khalili was filled with messages from her family, which is still in Afghanistan and Qatar … What does that mean to them? Do their hopes evaporate in finding a safe shelter one day in America?
According to the travel ban announced on Wednesday evening, the Trump administration greatly banned the entry of Afghans who hope for permanent stability in the United States, as well as those who seek to enter temporarily for purposes, such as university study.
There are exceptions, most notably for private immigration visa holders who closely supported the United States during its two decades war in Afghanistan, but the embargo comes at a time when other forms of support to the Afghans allied with America under the Trump administration fade, according to a report by “Associated Press” Thursday.
“It seems that all the doors are closed in our faces,” said Khalili, a previous public prosecutor who fled to America during the chaotic withdrawal in 2021.
Many family members are trying to come to the United States through the refugee program. As for her sister, who worked as a journalist during the American occupation, she is still in Afghanistan with her family unable to work. While her father, brother, and father’s wife commented at an American base in Qatar, after they started asylum procedures that stopped due to the suspension of the program on January 20. The news of the inclusion of Afghanistan in the travel ban was another blow to the family.
Khalili said: “They sent me the news last night and said: (This is not hoping for it). When she spoke with her brother in Qatar, he told her: (I prefer to die here to return to Afghanistan).
Exceptions … but the situation is confusing
Another exception that applies to all countries covered by the ban, which allows the entry of husbands, children and fathers of American citizens. The American government can also decide to receive some cases individually if it sees that it serves a “national interest for the United States”.
But unlike these exceptions, Afghans are prevented from entering the United States.
According to Steinburg, Deputy Head of Policy Department at the HIAS for resettlement of refugees, the drafting of the decision regarding the refugee program is not clear, but it is basically stopped by another executive order that Trump signed after his inauguration on January 20.
The travel embargo comes at a time when the Trump administration had already started to weaken the efforts of Afghan resettlement, as the office established by the Biden administration was dismantled to coordinate resettlement operations, and the refugee program was suspended, and although private immigration visas holders can still come, reducing the financing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs means that there is no longer funding to transfer or help them in stability. Then the travel ban came to spread a wave of fear in society.
Salha said, in an interview with the Associated Press on Thursday, that her family was preparing for Eid al -Adha, when Trump announced that the Afghans were among the targets in his new executive.
She said, “We were hoping to hear good news that brought us closer to come to America, but Trump’s news increased depression and confusion.” She asked not to reveal her full name, for fear of being exposed to her and her family if she returns to Afghanistan.
Salha was a lawyer in a generation of women who grew up after the American invasion. With her family, she arrived at the camp in Qatar, January, to start asylum procedures, and they were hoped for the move to America soon. But the suspension of the program left it and hundreds of families at the base in a state of deadly waiting.
She still hopes to obtain an exception to her family, but she said: “It is very difficult to be far from your country, waiting for a new life, and hearing bad news every two days.”
The “No One Left Behind”, the defender of the Special Immigration Vision Program, praised the exception granted to that category, but expressed its dissatisfaction that there are many “fought alongside America”, but they will leave because they do not meet the conditions.
Its statement said on Thursday: “This includes those who were injured during service, and they were unable to complete a whole year, and members of the Afghan National Army who served with the American Special Forces, and others. They stood with us in the war, and they are now facing the danger because of that service without a clear way to go out. We must deny our promise to them too. ”
Afghans feel persecuted in Pakistan
For decades, Pakistan has been hosting a large number of Afghans of conflicts. Many of them felt lost, after hearing the news of the ban.
One of the Afghans, who worked closely with American agencies before the “Taliban” returned in 2021, said: “This is a painful and painful news.” He spoke, provided that his name is not revealed, for fear of the “Taliban” or the arrest of the Pakistani authorities.
He explained that he was unable to obtain a visa, despite his work 3 years at the American embassy with educational awareness campaigns. He said that his life is threatened if he returns, and he does not know the reason for rejecting his request, and he is afraid that the ban will encourage the Pakistani government to deport the Afghans expected to resettle in America.
“President Trump has destroyed our hopes,” he added. America has the right to formulate its policy, but it should not abandon those who stood with it, exposed themselves at risk, and promised a better future. ”
For his part, Khaled Khan, another Afghani, said that the new restrictions had been exposed to him and thousands of others at the risk of arrest in Pakistan, after the police had previously left him at the request of the American embassy.
He added, “I worked with the American army for 8 years, and I feel that I was neglected. Every month, Trump issues a new decision. ” Khan had fled to Pakistan 3 years ago.
He added, “Returning to Afghanistan will threaten my daughter’s education. (The Taliban) prevented girls from studying after the sixth grade. My daughter will remain without education if we go back. ”
The “Taliban” took control of the cable in August 2021, after the collapse of the Western supported government.
At that time, tens of thousands flocked to the airport, trying to obtain seats in American evacuation aircraft.
Pakistan had previously announced its cooperation with countries hosted to resettle Afghans.
No official comments were issued by its officials on the executive decision of Trump.
The Taliban government, which was hoping to improve its relations with Washington, did not announce any immediate reaction.
