AfghanEvac, an advocacy group, welcomed President Trump’s acknowledgment of the US’s obligation to its wartime allies but urged him to match those words with clear policies.
In a statement released Thursday, Shawn VanDiver, the group’s president, called Trump’s remarks a “powerful recognition of duty” toward Afghans who “proved their loyalty by standing shoulder to shoulder with American forces.” He noted that more than 90 percent of those relocated are now safe in the United States.
But VanDiver warned that reassurance alone was not enough, pressing the administration to honor due process, adhere to U.S. and international refugee protections, and resolve the status of roughly 1,500 Afghans stranded in Qatar. “Their continued uncertainty is not just a policy failure, it is a moral one,” he said.
AfghanEvac also called for the swift reunification of more than 15,000 family members still overseas, protection for Afghans already in the United States, and safeguards against politically motivated deportations.
“President Trump has an opportunity to demonstrate that America is strongest when we keep our promises,” the statement said. “We urge him to follow through with real guidance and action.”
