A recent directive from Trump has led to a 90-day suspension of foreign aid, raising concerns among experts about its negative impact on crucial programs, including health and nutrition. The freeze also affects funds for Afghan special immigrant visa holders, hindering their access to housing and employment in the U.S. Over 40,000 Afghans remain stranded amid reports of Taliban violence, while previous commitments to resettle Afghan allies and refugees have been compromised.
Suspension of Foreign Aid and Its Consequences
Recently, a significant halt in foreign development aid was initiated by Trump’s directive to pause these efforts for 90 days. This temporary suspension is aimed at reviewing the aid’s effectiveness and alignment with his ‘America First’ foreign policy. Experts and advocacy organizations have raised concerns that this pause has led to disorder in both American and international aid initiatives, adversely impacting vital programs related to nutrition, health, vaccinations, and more.
Impact on Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holders
The decree also prompted the State Department to freeze funds designated for organizations assisting Afghan holders of special immigrant visas (SIVs) in securing housing, education, and employment opportunities in the U.S. During his victorious 2024 campaign, Mr. Trump made a commitment to tighten immigration policies. Shawn VanDiver, the leader of #AfghanEvac, which includes veterans and advocacy groups collaborating with the U.S. government on the evacuation and resettlement of SIV holders, expressed that the suspension of flights was likely not a deliberate decision. “We believe this is an error,” he stated, expressing hope that the administration would provide exemptions to the orders for Afghans who had served the U.S. during the two-decade-long conflict, which concluded with the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in August 2021. He emphasized the sacrifices made by these individuals, mentioning that thousands of Afghans are still awaiting the processing of their SIV applications.
The White House and State Department have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the situation. Reports from the UN mission in Afghanistan indicate alarming actions by the Taliban, including the detention, torture, and execution of former soldiers and officials from the previous U.S.-backed government. Despite the Taliban’s claims of a general amnesty for these individuals, the allegations persist. The flight suspension has left over 40,000 Afghans stranded, including SIV holders waiting to travel to the U.S. from visa processing centers in Qatar and Albania. This figure encompasses Afghans whose SIV applications have received approval and who are currently waiting in Afghanistan and Pakistan for placement on U.S.-funded flights to processing centers in Doha and Tirana. Since the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal in 2021, nearly 200,000 Afghans have been resettled in the United States via SIVs or as refugees. Moreover, a separate order signed just hours after his inauguration also halted all U.S. refugee resettlement programs, leading to numerous Afghan refugees losing their flight opportunities, including family members of active-duty Afghan American military personnel and unaccompanied minors.