The U.S. State Department is “undertaking a full review of all visa programs,” a department spokesperson confirmed amid reports of a possible new travel ban. A U.S. official familiar with the situation told that Afghanistan could be among the countries included in the policy.
According to the official, the ban could be implemented as early as next week. However, they noted that final decisions regarding the specific countries affected and the timing had not yet been confirmed.
In an executive order issued on January 20, President Donald Trump directed cabinet members, including the Secretary of State, to identify countries “for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension on the admission of nationals from those countries.” The order requires this list to be compiled within 60 days.
“The Department is undertaking a full review of all visa programs as directed under this EO and executing on administration priorities,” the spokesperson stated.
They declined to provide further details, emphasizing that the department does “not comment on internal deliberations or communications.”
A White House official, when asked about the reports, told, “No decisions regarding possible travel bans have been made, and anyone claiming otherwise does not know what they are talking about.”
During his first term, Trump implemented a travel ban that barred travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. This policy faced legal challenges before being repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
If Afghanistan is included in the new travel restrictions, it could significantly impact tens of thousands of Afghans who worked alongside the U.S. during its two-decade presence in the country. Such a policy would prevent Afghan nationals from entering the U.S.
US State Department is Considering A New Travel Policy (Photo: Getty Images)Many Afghans have already faced uncertainty due to previous executive orders under the Trump administration that suspended the U.S. refugee admissions program and halted foreign aid funding for flights transporting Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders.
On Wednesday, AfghanEvac, a coalition of organizations dedicated to helping Afghan allies reach safety since the war in Afghanistan ended in 2021, issued a warning urging “all Afghan nationals holding valid U.S. visas to travel as soon as possible amid credible indications that a travel ban affecting Afghan nationals may be imminent.”
“While no official announcement has been made, multiple sources within the U.S. government suggest that a new travel restriction could be implemented within the next week. This potential policy change may significantly impact Afghan visa holders who have been awaiting relocation to the United States,” the group’s notice stated.
The International Refugee Admissions Project (IRAP) also responded to the reports of a new travel ban, expressing opposition in a press release on Friday. The organization stated that many of their clients “have been waiting years for their visas to be processed and remain in extremely dangerous circumstances.”
“A new travel ban would put their lives at risk by denying them the opportunity to reach safety. Even a temporary suspension will result in immediate and lasting harm for refugees and their families,” IRAP’s statement read.
“While we do not yet know the full scope of who could be impacted, reports indicate that Afghan refugees targeted by the Taliban, including Special Immigrant Visa holders and others who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, could all be subjected to this unlawful ban,” the statement continued.
“It is shameful that the Trump administration is abandoning America’s promise to protect Afghan allies and other forcibly displaced people around the world.”