More than 1,600 Afghans eligible to enter the US as refugees will see their entry blocked under an executive order signed by Donald Trump on Monday evening that suspends the resettlement of all refugees to the United States for an indefinite period of time.
The decision has caused panic among Afghan refugees, including family members of hundreds of active-duty service personnel and children waiting to be reunited with family members already in the US, many of these refugees are in danger because of their past ties to the US and need to leave Afghanistan or Pakistan urgently.
Starting January 27, refugees who were approved for resettlement will be removed from flight lists heading to the US. Advocates now have just one week to push for a separate order or amendment to exempt Afghan refugees from this ban.
The US ban on Afghan refugees is a betrayal of those who supported ISAF and NATO, leaving them stranded while expecting Pakistan to shoulder the burden.
Western countries have refused to accept Afghan refugees, citing weak excuses, while Pakistan, which has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, continues to bear the brunt of the crisis.
Instead of alleviating Pakistan’s challenges, the US ban has intensified the strain on the country and other neighboring hosts.
Western nations, which criticize Pakistan for repatriating illegal immigrants, are now being accused of hypocrisy for abandoning Afghan refugees in their time of need.
Organizations like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the EU have focused their attention on Pakistan’s policies while ignoring the West’s refusal to share responsibility.
Critics have urged the international community to hold the US and EU accountable for their actions and demand fair contributions to managing the ongoing Afghan refugee crisis.
