Afghan SIV Holders Included in Trump Travel Ban, Refugee Group Says

A refugee advocacy group says Afghan Special Immigrant Visa holders have been included in President Donald Trump’s travel ban, raising concerns over family separation and humanitarian consequences.

The United States has expanded its travel ban, restricting citizens from several countries, including Afghanistan, from obtaining visas or immigrating to the country on security and immigration grounds.

The White House said President Donald Trump signed an executive order extending the ban to additional countries, including Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria and South Sudan. The restrictions also apply to Palestinians holding passports issued by the Palestinian Authority.

Afghan advocacy group Afghan Evac said the latest decision has removed a key exemption that had allowed Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to enter the United States despite the broader travel ban.

Shawn VanDiver, president of Afghan Evac, accused the US administration of using a recent shooting involving an Afghan former soldier and US National Guard troops to justify tougher restrictions on Afghan refugees and former US allies.

He said SIV holders undergo some of the most rigorous vetting procedures in the US immigration system, calling the removal of their exemption a deliberate move with immediate humanitarian consequences.

According to Afghan Evac, the decision has led to family separations, prolonged uncertainty for thousands of applicants, and weakened trust among Afghans who previously worked alongside US forces and diplomats.

The organisation urged Washington to urgently review and reverse the order, warning that the policy contradicts long-standing US immigration principles, including commitments to family reunification and the protection of former partners.

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