December 22, 2025

EOA Statement in Response to Trump’s latest Travel Ban Presidential Proclamation

For more than twenty years, Afghans served, sacrificed, and fought alongside U.S. forces, often at extraordinary personal risk. They were targeted precisely because they chose to stand with the United States of America. These allies continue to contribute to communities across the United States as neighbors, advocates, healthcare workers, small business owners, Uber drivers, students, and responsible members of the community. Their courage and partnership helped save many American lives, and their continued solidarity strengthens our nation.

The December 16 Presidential Proclamation expands the travel prohibition on Afghan nationals to block Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders from entering the United States. This national security program is critical for the secure evacuation of the Afghan allies who served on behalf of the United States. We urge the Administration to reconsider this blanket ban on admission of fully-vetted Afghans to the United States.

Congress established the Afghan SIV program because of the threat to those affiliated with the U.S. missions in Afghanistan, recognizing the national security need to keep the partners who trained and served with U.S. operations out of the capture of those who seek to do them harm. To qualify for an SIV through the Afghan SIV program, an individual must have completed at least one year of service with the U.S. military, government, or contractors and pass rigid, robust interagency vetting. This vetting often takes years to complete given the extensive verification, biometric screening, in-person interviews, and more required to be issued an SIV. This is in addition to the vetting in action as our Afghan allies served shoulder-to-shoulder with U.S. troops, diplomats, and officials.

Afghan SIV-eligible allies face deadly retribution for their affiliation with and service to U.S. counterterrorism efforts. Blocking SIV holder’s admission to the United States despite having passed robust interagency vetting to be issued an SIV would leave our closest partners and their families in tremendous danger.

Securing these allies impacts national security beyond Afghanistan: Strong partnerships make our troops and our diplomats in ongoing and future missions safer and more effective. We are committed to working with the U.S. government to uphold the American values and integrity of our immigration laws. Indiscriminately blocking admission of Afghan allies who have been issued SIVs for their service weakens our national security infrastructure and abandons our partners.

Link to proclamation for reference 

Signed: 

Afghan-American Community Organization (AACO)

Afghan-American Foundation

Afghans for a Better Tomorrow

Association of Wartime Allies (AWA)

CARECEN (Central American Refugee Center NY)

Carolina Refugee Resettelement Agency

Conklin Immigration Law, LLC

Hearts & Homes for Refugees

Human Rights First

International Institute of New England

International Refugee Assistance Project

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area

No One Left Behind

REACT DC

Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice

World Relief