The U.S. State Department is conducting a comprehensive review of all visa programs, a spokesperson confirmed, amid reports of a potential new travel ban. According to a U.S. official familiar with the situation, Afghanistan could be one of the countries affected.
The official mentioned that the ban could be implemented as early as next week, although it is uncertain whether final decisions on the specific countries and timing have been made.
In an executive order issued on January 20, President Donald Trump instructed cabinet members, including the Secretary of State, to create a list of countries where vetting and screening information is insufficient, potentially leading to a partial or full suspension of admissions for nationals from those countries. This review was to be completed within 60 days.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that the department is reviewing all visa programs as directed under the executive order and is executing the administration’s priorities. However, the spokesperson did not provide additional details, stating that they do not comment on internal deliberations.
A White House official clarified that no decisions have been made regarding potential travel bans, and anyone claiming otherwise is not informed about the situation.
In his first term, President Trump imposed travel restrictions on citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries, a policy that faced legal challenges until President Joe Biden repealed it upon taking office in 2021.
If Afghanistan is included in the new travel ban, it could affect tens of thousands of Afghans who worked with the U.S. during the two-decade war, as it would prevent Afghan nationals from entering the U.S.
Many Afghans are already stuck in uncertainty due to other executive orders from the Trump administration, which suspended the U.S. refugee admissions program and halted foreign aid funding for flights of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders.
On Wednesday, AfghanEvac, a coalition of organizations working to help Afghan allies since the end of the war in Afghanistan in 2021, urged Afghan nationals with valid U.S. visas to travel as soon as possible. They warned that a travel ban affecting Afghan nationals might be imminent, with reports suggesting the new restriction could be implemented within the next week.
The International Refugee Admissions Project (IRAP) also opposed the potential travel ban, emphasizing that many of their clients have been waiting for years for their visas to be processed and remain in extremely dangerous situations. They stated that a new travel ban would jeopardize the lives of these individuals by denying them the opportunity to reach safety.
While the full scope of those affected remains unclear, reports suggest that Afghan refugees targeted by the Taliban, including Special Immigrant Visa holders and others who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, could be subject to the ban. IRAP criticized the potential policy, calling it an abandonment of America’s commitment to protect Afghan allies and other displaced individuals worldwide.