U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has instructed Afghan migrants residing in the United States to report their immigration status during the Christmas and New Year holidays. This directive, which includes requests for meetings on December 25 and January 1, represents a continuation of stringent immigration policies initiated during the Trump administration.
In letters reviewed by Bloomberg News, ICE has scheduled “report check-ins” for various dates around the holiday season, including December 27 and December 30. These letters have caused concern among Afghan migrants, particularly those who previously received legal protection under programs supporting individuals who assisted U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.
Many of the recipients of these requests are categorized as “Afghan allies,” a designation that emerged from a program initiated by former President Joe Biden in August 2021. This program aimed to provide refuge for individuals who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover after the U.S. military withdrawal.
Shawn VanDiver, founder of the nonprofit organization AfghanEvac, criticized the timing of these check-ins. He stated, “ICE is using federal and religious holidays to detain Afghans when access to legal counsel, courts, and advocates is at its lowest. This is not routine administrative scheduling.”
Despite these concerns, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security characterized the check-ins as “routine” and a part of standard operations, without specifying the number of letters sent. The spokesperson emphasized that ICE continues its enforcement activities during the holiday period, which typically sees most government offices closed.
The current situation follows significant changes to U.S. immigration policy under Donald Trump, particularly in response to incidents involving Afghan nationals. One notable case is that of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who has been charged with murder after an alleged shooting of two National Guard troops. Lakanwal entered the U.S. through the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome program.
In light of the November incident, the Trump administration announced a review of all refugee cases resettled under Biden’s policies and has frozen their green card applications. This decision has raised concerns about the future of Afghan nationals in the U.S., especially as the administration has also lowered the refugee cap for fiscal year 2026 to 7,500, down from 125,000. The recent presidential determination gave preference to White South Afrikaners, not mentioning Afghans.
Additionally, the administration has removed exemptions for Afghan nationals holding Special Immigration Visas, which were previously available to those who provided support to U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan. This change expanded the entry ban list to nationals from over 30 countries, including Afghan nationals who were already affected prior to the expansion.
Earlier this year, the State Department closed the office specifically designed to assist Afghan refugees who contributed to U.S. operations. Despite efforts from lawmakers to compel the administration to reinstate these operations, such measures failed to be included in the defense policy bill signed by Trump this month.
The ongoing developments continue to highlight the precarious situation of Afghan migrants in the United States, raising questions about their future and the implications of current immigration policies.
