US State Department halts visa processing for Afghan allies

WASHINGTON, Nov 29 The Trump administration has directed all U.S. diplomatic missions to immediately stop processing visas for Afghan citizens, according to a State Department cable obtained by Reuters. This action effectively suspends the special immigration program for Afghans who assisted the U.S. during its 20-year presence in Afghanistan.

The cable, distributed to diplomatic posts worldwide on Friday, instructs consular officers to deny both immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications from Afghan nationals, including Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants.

The announcement comes shortly after a former member of an Afghanistan CIA-backed unit was charged with shooting two U.S. National Guard members in Washington, D.C., resulting in one death.

The State Department referred Reuters to a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on platform X, confirming that visa issuance for all Afghan passport holders has been paused.

The Friday cable, first reported by the New York Times, stated that the decision aims to ensure proper verification of applicants' identity and eligibility under U.S. law.

Shawn VanDiver, president of volunteer group AfghanEvac, described the directive as part of a broader effort by the administration to block Afghans from entering the U.S., saying, "There is no doubt this is the outcome they have been driving toward for months."

The White House has not issued an immediate comment. While appointments already set for Afghan applicants will proceed, consular officers are instructed to deny visas during these meetings. Any visas authorized but not yet printed must be canceled, and printed visas are to be destroyed with the corresponding cases updated and rejected in the system.

Earlier this week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had already suspended processing immigration applications from Afghan nationals indefinitely.

Since 2021, roughly 200,000 Afghans have entered the U.S. through refugee and special visa programs. Another 265,000 applications are still being processed outside the country, including approximately 180,000 in the SIV pipeline for those who worked for the U.S. government, according to VanDiver.

Since returning to office in January, Trump has prioritized immigration enforcement, deploying federal agents to major U.S. cities and restricting asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. This new visa suspension suggests a heightened focus on regulating legal immigration following recent security incidents.

Author: Sophia Brooks