Trump Suspends Flights of 10,000 Refugees Approved for Asylum

In a surprising move, the government of Donald Trump suspended the flights of approximately 10,000 refugees who had already been approved to enter the United States. Among them were more than 1,600 Afghans who had been authorized to seek asylum in the country as part of a program initiated by Joe Biden after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2021.

This change was revealed in a memorandum last Wednesday, confirming that, as a migration crackdown was implemented, the entry of these refugees would be halted.

A Swift Decision

The flight cancellations came after an executive order signed on the same day Trump took office, which stipulated that all scheduled refugee travel would be canceled. According to an email sent by the State Department to groups working with newcomers, the processing of all cases was also suspended.

The memorandum requested the International Organization for Migration not to send refugees to transit centers. However, those who had already been resettled in the United States would continue to receive the services assigned to them.

A Controversial Measure

Throughout his presidential campaigns, Trump had promised to take strong measures against undocumented migration, but the suspension of these refugees affects people fleeing war, persecution, and natural disasters. In his executive order, Trump announced that he would suspend the admission of refugees starting on January 27 and ordered a report to review the program, seeking “greater involvement” from states and local regions in the process.

Additionally, he revoked Biden’s decision to consider the impact of climate change when accepting refugees.

Current Government’s Position on Migration

The new Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, expressed that the State Department “would no longer facilitate or encourage mass migration”. According to Rubio, the diplomatic relations of the United States with other countries would primarily focus on border protection, halting illegal migration, and negotiating the repatriation of undocumented immigrants.

Opposition Reaction

On the other hand, President Biden had promoted the refugee program as a legal way to provide support to those who needed it most. In fiscal year 2024, more than 100,000 refugees were resettled in the United States, the highest number in three decades. Among the most common countries of origin for refugees in recent years are the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed her concern over Trump’s decisions, emphasizing that the acceptance of refugees is a “core American value.” According to Shaheen, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program has been a tool of bipartisan support that saves lives and also promotes global stability, which helps U.S. security.

What Will Happen to Afghan Refugees?

The State Department’s memorandum clarified that Afghans who worked with the United States during the 2021 withdrawal could still enter through a separate resettlement program. However, Senator Shaheen expressed her concern about the situation of these refugees, as the canceled flights would leave them in limbo.