Refugee flights to the United States have been canceled following President Trump’s executive order suspending refugee admissions, according to a State Department memo obtained by CNN. The move, which takes immediate effect, halts the resettlement of thousands of refugees who had already been approved and scheduled for travel.
The memo, sent to resettlement agencies, states, “All previously scheduled refugee travel to the United States is canceled, and no new travel reservations will be made.” It also instructs agencies to pause all case processing and pre-departure activities, effectively shutting down the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for the time being.
Approximately 10,000 refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Venezuela, Syria, and Myanmar are affected by the cancellations. Many of these individuals had already completed extensive medical and security screenings, which may now expire due to the delays. The memo emphasizes that no new refugee cases should be referred to USRAP until further notice.
However, the suspension does not apply to special immigrant visa (SIV) holders, including those who worked with the U.S. government abroad. These individuals can still travel to the U.S., and refugees already in the country will continue to receive support services.
The decision has raised concerns about the fate of Afghan refugees, particularly those without SIVs who are currently stranded in third countries like Pakistan and Qatar. These individuals were being processed for U.S. resettlement but are now “trapped” at U.S.-run transit centers, according to an administration official. “It is unclear what will happen to them,” the official said, noting that some may be stuck indefinitely.
An estimated 1,000 Afghan refugees are in Doha, Qatar, and up to 10,000 are in Pakistan, with thousands more in other countries. Advocacy group #AfghanEvac warned that the suspension endangers Afghans who supported U.S. missions during the war, including military partners and female airmen. “This move puts thousands of lives at risk,” the group stated.
President Trump’s executive order, signed on Monday, cited the U.S.’s inability to absorb large numbers of immigrants and refugees in recent years. It suspends the refugee admissions program “until further admissions are in the interest of the United States.” While the order was initially set to take effect on January 27, the memo indicates it is being implemented immediately.
The refugee program, which has operated for decades, involves rigorous vetting of individuals overseas before they are allowed to resettle in the U.S. The suspension aligns with the administration’s broader immigration agenda, which prioritizes national security and public safety by limiting entry into the country.
Under the Biden administration, the U.S. had set an annual cap of 125,000 refugee admissions. The current suspension marks a significant shift in U.S. refugee policy, leaving thousands in limbo and raising questions about the future of the program.
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