Refugees who were approved to travel to the United States before a January 27 deadline that suspends the US refugee resettlement program have had their travel plans canceled by the Trump administration.
Thousands of refugees are now stranded in different places around the world.
The suspension was contained in an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on Monday. That leaves open the possibility that people who had to go through a lengthy process to be approved as refugees and allowed to come to the U.S., and whose flights were booked before that deadline, could still Can enter under the wire.
But in an email reviewed by The Associated Press on Wednesday, the U.S. agency that oversees refugee processing and immigration told staff and stakeholders that it has “suspended the entry of refugees into the United States until further notice.” has gone.”
Among those affected are more than 1,600 Afghan nationals who have been cleared to resettle in the U.S. as part of a program the Biden administration set up after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. This number also includes those who served with American troops during the war. As family members of active duty US military personnel.
Trump’s order gave the agency until Jan. 27 before it halts all processing and travel. However, it now appears that the time in sequence was extended. It was not immediately clear what led to the change.
Refugees are distinct from those who come directly to the U.S.-Mexico border with the goal of seeking asylum in the U.S. Refugees must remain outside the U.S. in order to be considered for resettlement and are usually recognized by the United Nations. It is sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
They undergo extensive screening before entering the country. Once there, they are usually paired with a resettlement agency that helps them adjust to life in the U.S., including helping them find a job and enroll their children in school.
Antonio Gutierrez, a community organizer in Chicago, said that after President Donald Trump gave ICE agents broader powers to detain and deport undocumented immigrants, his community fears the agents will be in schools and churches. may enter, and families may be separated.
