U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has summoned Afghan migrants residing in the United States to present their documents during the holiday season. This request comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the U.S. immigration policies affecting Afghans, particularly those who aided American military efforts. The agency has scheduled appointments for “check-ins” on December 25, 2023, and January 1, 2024, alongside other dates such as December 27 and December 30.
The letters, viewed by Bloomberg News, indicate a growing pressure on Afghan nationals, many of whom had received legal protections through programs initiated after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. These individuals are often classified as “Afghan allies,” a designation established by former President Joe Biden in August 2021 to safeguard those fleeing the Taliban-controlled country.
Shawn VanDiver, founder of the nonprofit organization AfghanEvac, criticized the timing of these requests, stating, “ICE is using federal and religious holidays to detain Afghans when access to legal counsel, courts, and advocates is at its lowest.” He emphasized that the situation is not a “routine administrative scheduling,” reflecting broader concerns about the treatment of Afghan migrants in the U.S.
In response, a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security defended the check-ins as “routine” and “long-standing,” although they did not provide details on the number of letters sent. The spokesperson also noted that ICE continues its standard operations during the holiday period, despite the practical challenges posed by government office closures.
The recent summons follow significant changes in U.S. immigration policy under former President Donald Trump. These changes were partly prompted by a tragic incident in November 2023, when two National Guard troops were shot by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who had previously worked with U.S. forces. Lakanwal was charged with murder and had entered the U.S. through the Operation Allies Welcome program initiated by the Biden administration.
In the wake of the November shooting, the Trump administration announced a comprehensive review of the cases of all refugees resettled under Biden. This includes a freeze on green card applications for these individuals, with the administration indicating that a country’s presence on the travel ban list would be considered a “significant negative factor” in their cases.
The refugee cap for fiscal year 2026 has been drastically reduced from 125,000 to 7,500. This decision disproportionately affects Afghan migrants, as the presidential determination explicitly favors other groups, such as White South Afrikaners, and fails to mention Afghans.
Moreover, the administration has removed an exemption for Afghan nationals with Special Immigration Visas, despite these individuals having provided crucial services to the U.S. government and military in Afghanistan. This exemption was eliminated as the entry ban list expanded from 19 to more than 30 countries, further complicating the situation for Afghan nationals already facing barriers to entry.
Earlier in the year, the State Department closed the office dedicated to assisting Afghan refugees who supported the U.S. military efforts. Despite attempts in Congress to revive this office, such efforts did not make it into the defense policy bill signed by Trump this month.
As these developments unfold, the implications for Afghan migrants in the U.S. remain uncertain, with many voicing concerns over their safety and legal status during this critical period.
