In 2021, American troops withdrew from Afghanistan, resulting in the swift collapse of the Afghan government and Taliban once again taking control of the country. Five years later, conditions in the country remain unsafe and volatile for vulnerable populations, including displaced people, women and girls, and allies of the U.S. This relentless humanitarian crisis cannot be ignored as nearly half of the population struggles to meet their day-to-day needs. Moreover, as this crisis continues, Afghans in the United States are at increased risk of being deported back to devastation and danger as their legal status in the U.S. is threatened.
Afghan Allies in Limbo
During the 20‑year U.S. mission in Afghanistan, thousands of Afghans worked directly alongside American troops, serving in roles that were essential to the mission’s success. They were interpreters, cultural advisors, drivers, engineers, journalists, human rights defenders, and security personnel who operated shoulder‑to‑shoulder with U.S. service members in some of the most dangerous environments in the world.
These individuals were not passive beneficiaries of U.S. protection — they were active partners who enabled U.S. forces, diplomats, and aid workers to navigate Afghanistan’s linguistic, cultural, and geographic complexity. Their work saved American lives, strengthened diplomatic and humanitarian operations, and helped the U.S. engage Afghan communities with credibility.
Because of this partnership, they were immediately targeted by the Taliban—a violent extremist organization responsible for widespread human rights abuses—for their association with the United States. Their families were threatened, their homes raided, and their names placed on kill lists.
The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program was created in 2009 as a pathway for Afghan allies who worked directly for the U.S. government or military. However, under the current administration, visa issuance through the Afghan SIV program has been paused—despite nearly 6,000 visas remaining authorized by Congress. At the same time, a travel ban prevents nearly all Afghan nationals, including Afghan SIV holders and their family members, from arriving in the United States.
Afghans who didn’t work directly for the U.S. military or government don’t qualify for an SIV, but many found other pathways to safety in the U.S. Afghan judges, lawyers, journalists, rights defenders, and others were welcomed as refugees under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Now, that pathway has also been largely shuttered amid the travel ban and the wide-ranging suspension of the USRAP.
Due to relentless policy changes, thousands of Afghan allies remain in limbo and danger, unable to live securely in Afghanistan or a third country but unable to move forward with their resettlement. Moreover, those who successfully resettled in the U.S. are increasingly vulnerable to detention and deportation as their statuses are being questioned. Despite a legitimate and desperate need for protection, Afghans who served alongside U.S. troops and their family members are at risk of being forcibly removed to dangerous conditions, in Afghanistan or elsewhere.
Current Conditions in Afghanistan
Afghanistan remains dangerous not only for our allies and potential forced returnees, but for other vulnerable Afghans as well. At-risk groups include internally displaced people or refugees who have fled due to severe poverty, food shortages, pockets of violence or armed conflict, climate crises, and violence against women and girls.
Intermittent conflict across the region has disrupted trade routes, contributing to growing food scarcity. Ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan has led to Pakistan removing hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Afghans to extremely precarious conditions, particularly for those who initially fled due to persecution or human rights concerns. The influx of returnees has greatly strained the already fragile nation. Moreover, Afghanistan is also ranked one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world due to rising temperatures, droughts, and flooding. Water scarcity is impacting many smaller towns throughout the country, leading to a decline in access to safe drinking water and an increase in food shortages as crops dry up. Extreme weather events such as flash floods and dust storms are also increasing, contributing to internal displacement and increasing humanitarian needs.
Currently, 21.9 million Afghans require humanitarian assistance—45% of the entire population. Nearly half the Afghan population is facing food insecurity and child malnutrition. Child wasting — the deadliest form of malnutrition — has reached record levels. In 2026, 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls are projected to be malnourished. The humanitarian and economic crisis disproportionately affects Afghan women and girls, who systematically face violations of their rights and are largely excluded from public society.
The Erasure of Afghan Women and Girls
One of the most devastating consequences of the Taliban rule has been the relentless oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan. Since 2021, the Taliban has issued over 100 decrees institutionally stripping women and girls of their rights and restricting their access to education, health services, work, and other freedoms. Girls are barred from attending secondary school, and 30 percent of girls never even start primary school due to safety concerns, poverty, and harmful social norms. Only 7 percent of women work in Afghanistan, compared to 84 percent of men. Afghan women must travel with a male relative and cover their faces in public. Only one in two Afghan women leave their homes more than twice a month, while over half of them avoid public spaces like markets and health facilities entirely. Women are increasingly facing arbitrary arrests and capital punishments due to allegedly violating hijab laws and other minor offenses.
The threat of violence against women and girls has increased country-wide due to the dismantling of laws and services that prevent and respond to incidents of violence. Rates of both forced and child marriage remain high, sometimes occurring as a desperate response to poverty. Afghanistan also has one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates, due in large part to limited access to sexual and reproductive health services and information.
We Must Extend Protection to Afghans in Need
As we reflect on more than five years since the U.S. withdrawal and evacuation from Afghanistan, we must acknowledge the severity of the humanitarian crisis that is threatening millions of Afghans. The continued forced return of Afghans and intermittent regional conflict is straining the flailing economy, disrupting trade routes, and ruining the livelihoods of many. Woman and girls are experiencing systematic oppression and discrimination to a degree nearly unimaginable; they are being erased from Afghan society. The U.S. must reconsider the suspension of protection of Afghan people, particularly those who are awaiting resettlement decisions or actions, such as the 1,100 Afghan refugees in limbo at Camp As Saliyah, or those who are facing imminent deportation from the U.S. Afghan SIVs and refugees deserve our protection and support, not our indifference.
Please urge Congress to push the administration to revise the policies that have barred Afghans from reaching safety.
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