At Building Peaceful Bridges, we are deeply concerned about the human toll of recent suspension of key refugee and immigration programs. Many Afghan families who risked their lives to support U.S. efforts now face deportation, separation, and violence.

The Trump administration’s actions has left thousands of Afghan wartime allies in perilous limbo. Recent Executive Orders have halted the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), frozen critical funding, and disrupted the Enduring Welcome initiative, which was designed to safely relocate vetted Afghan partners and their families. These abrupt policy shifts have stranded over 250,000 Afghans—many of whom supported U.S. missions as interpreters, aid workers, and military partners—amid escalating threats from the Taliban.

In an urgent letter dated April 23, 2025, AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver called on senior administration officials to restore and clarify the status of Enduring Welcome. He emphasized that the program is not merely a humanitarian gesture but a strategic investment in U.S. national security and credibility. VanDiver highlighted that over 147,000 Afghans have already passed rigorous security vetting, yet remain in limbo due to administrative paralysis. He urged the administration to resume processing, correct erroneous deportation notices, and reallocate existing funds to fulfill the program’s mandate.

BPB is a partner in the AfghanEvac coalition. We stand with AfghanEvac and other advocates in calling for immediate action to honor America’s commitments.