KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – US Congressman Michael McCaul has called on President Donald Trump to lift the suspension of refugee resettlement programs for Afghan nationals who assisted the US government during its involvement in Afghanistan.
In an interview with CBS News on Sunday, McCaul emphasized the importance of fulfilling promises made to “Afghan allies.” “The US ought to live up to its words,” he said, warning that “otherwise, in a future conflict, no one is going to trust us.”
“We promised them we would protect them when they worked with our servicemen and women in Afghanistan. These are the interpreters, the ones who were right alongside our combat veterans. They have these special immigrant visas, and it’s my view that they should be able to go forward with the SIV program,” he said.
“Leaving our Afghan partners behind is something the US needs to fix,” he emphasized.
Shortly after taking office last month, President Trump signed an executive order pausing the resettlement of refugees to the US, including Afghans who supported the country’s two-decade war in Afghanistan.
The US Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, which provides a pathway to safety for those who directly assisted the US government in Afghanistan, was also impacted by Trump’s executive order halting foreign aid. This has left thousands of applicants stranded in neighboring countries such as Pakistan.
The decision has sparked concern among Afghans awaiting resettlement, those with pending applications, and advocates. Many fear severe consequences for those who supported the US government’s involvement in Afghanistan and remain at risk of Taliban retaliation.
Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 and the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, tens of thousands of Afghans and their families were evacuated in a major airlift operation. Since then, nearly 200,000 Afghans have been relocated to the US under the previous administration.
However, thousands of at-risk Afghans remain stranded in Afghanistan or neighboring countries, mainly in Pakistan, awaiting US visas. As of last year, about 150,000 SIV applications remained unprocessed.
In addition to the SIV program, two other refugee designations—P1 and P2—are available for Afghans, including aid workers and journalists who contributed to promoting democracy and independent media during the US presence in Afghanistan. According to the Associated Press, around 27,400 applicants have applied for the P1 and P2 programs, but only a small number have been processed and relocated to the US.
