WASHINGTON — The White House said on Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s recent immigration orders, which have suspended the transfer of thousands of Afghan refugees to the United States, are part of an effort to review and ensure transparency in the vetting process.
When asked about the impact of Trump’s directives on immigration—including their effect on countries such as Afghanistan—White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was focused on streamlining security reviews and ensuring greater transparency from foreign governments.
“Yes, so the President signed an executive order to streamline the vetting for visa applicants and for illegal immigrants in this country who are coming, of course, from other nations,” Leavitt said. “It also directed the Secretary of State to review the process and make sure that other countries around the world are being completely transparent with our nation and the individuals that they are sending here. So the Secretary of State has been directed to report back to the President. I haven’t seen that report yet. We’ve only been here for a few days.”
Thousands of Afghan refugees in limbo
Trump’s orders have effectively halted the relocation of thousands of Afghans who had been deemed eligible for legal transfer to the United States. Many of these individuals worked with U.S. forces and agencies during Washington’s two-decade military presence in Afghanistan.
Now, they remain stranded in limbo across Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, and parts of Europe, awaiting a resolution. Many fear returning to Afghanistan, citing the risk of Taliban retribution.
“The psychological, economic, and social pressures are overwhelming,” said Mohammad Dawood Shirzad, an Afghan refugee awaiting relocation under the P-2 program. “We live in constant fear of arrest, forced deportation, or being sent back to Afghanistan, where we face the threat of death. I worked for 20 years with U.S. agencies in Afghanistan.”
The U.S. government has three primary immigration pathways for former Afghan allies: the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, as well as the P-1 and P-2 refugee programs. While initial reports suggested that SIV holders would not be affected by the suspension, Reuters reported that even flights for individuals with SIVs have been halted. According to sources, the freeze is expected to last 90 days.
Earlier this week, US vice president defended the decision in an interview with CBS, saying that the administration could not allow thousands of people to enter the U.S. without thorough screening.
