US Veterans Coalition Calls For Resumption Of Afghan Refugee Resettlement

2025-02-10 01:18:09

(MENAFN- Khaama Press) A coalition of U.S. veterans has written a letter to the U.S. Secretaries of State, Homeland Security, and Defense, urging the resumption of resettlement for qualified Afghan refugees. They called for Afghan refugees to be exempt from Trump's executive order suspending refugee admissions.

Reuters reported on Monday, February 10, that Shawn Vandiver, head of the AfghanEvac, wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In it, he warned that not resettling Afghan allies could damage future local support for U.S. forces in future conflicts.

Vandiver argued in the letter that failing to exempt Afghan refugees from Trump's executive order sends a damaging message to adversaries, including ISIS, by implying that the U.S. abandons its allies.

A copy of the letter was sent to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a veteran of the Afghan war, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Vandiver specifically urged the senior officials to grant an exemption for Afghan refugees from the suspension.

Vandiver stated that about 3,000 Afghan refugees are stranded in camps in Qatar and Albania, while approximately 50,000 others are stuck in Pakistan and other countries. He noted that these refugees, who helped U.S. forces, are in limbo and face an uncertain future due to the halt in the refugee program.

The Trump administration's executive order halting refugee admissions has placed Afghan allies in an increasingly precarious situation. Many of these refugees risked their lives working alongside U.S. forces and now face uncertain futures, some stranded in foreign countries with limited options.

The policy of halting foreign aid and refugee resettlement for 90 days has sparked significant concern among U.S. allies, particularly those in Afghanistan who fear abandonment by the very nation they helped. This could erode trust in the U.S. military's ability to honor commitments to its partners.

Experts warn that this policy could have long-term consequences for U.S. foreign relations and military operations. By abandoning Afghan allies, the U.S. risks damaging its reputation and losing the support of future partners in conflict zones, making it more challenging to build alliances in future military operations.

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