WASHINGTON— A group of 47 Democratic lawmakers, led by Representative Doris Matsui, has called on President Donald J. Trump to reverse his decision to halt Afghan refugee admissions, warning that the policy puts thousands of U.S. allies at risk.
In a letter sent to the White House on Wednesday, the lawmakers argued that suspending the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and restricting refugee resettlement not only undermines American values but also endangers Afghans who risked their lives supporting U.S. forces.
According to the letter, more than 1,600 Afghan allies had been approved and cleared for flights before the program was suspended.
Additionally, 10,000 others had been approved and were awaiting transfer and over 40,000 Afghans were in the final stages of approval.
The lawmakers warned that abruptly halting the program has left thousands stranded, many of whom fled Taliban threats and now face life-threatening risks without a pathway to reunite with their families in the U.S.
Beyond the humanitarian toll, the Democrats raised concerns about the effect of Trump’s order on U.S. resettlement programs. Reports indicate that the suspension of refugee admissions and budget cuts have forced the closure of multiple refugee resettlement centers, left thousands of workers unemployed, and severely limited access to housing, food, and healthcare for newly arrived Afghans.
The letter emphasized that this decision is not just about numbers—it has real human consequences.
One of the cases highlighted was that of Gol and his wife, an Afghan couple who were evacuated from Kabul in August 2021 but were separated from their four children in the chaos of the U.S. withdrawal.
After being resettled in Massachusetts, the couple fought for three years to reunite with their children, only to see their long-awaited approval blocked by Trump’s executive order.
In closing, the lawmakers urged Trump to reconsider his executive order and reinstate refugee admissions and SIV processing.
“The United States must honor its commitments,” the letter stated, “and stand by those who stood by us.”
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