Trump Suspends Afghan Refugee Admissions Indefinitely
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an indefinite suspension of refugee admissions from several countries, including Afghanistan. The decision follows an incident in Washington in which an Afghan national allegedly opened fire on two National Guard soldiers.
Responding to a reporter’s question aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “Yes, they were people who shouldn’t have been in our country this year.” He emphasized that the suspension would remain in place for an unspecified period and that the United States would no longer be accepting individuals from these countries.
“We have enough problems. We don’t want them. No, there’s no time limit. It could be a very long time. Do you understand that?” Trump added.
Defending the decision, the president described refugees from countries such as Afghanistan and Somalia as “unassimilable” and claimed that some pose a danger to American society. He argued that these countries lack effective governments, national armies, and functioning police forces, and therefore their refugees should not be allowed into the United States.
These remarks come at a time when thousands of Afghans are fleeing their country due to a fragile political situation and ongoing security threats. The new U.S. policy is expected to block many of these asylum seekers. Numerous human rights organizations have condemned the move as contrary to humanitarian principles and international refugee protections.
Given the growing instability and mounting pressures in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the U.S. decision to stop admitting Afghan refugees comes as a fresh blow to people at risk in the region.
