Refugees who had been approved to travel to the US before a January 27 deadline suspending America’s refugee resettlement programme have had their travel plans cancelled by the Trump administration.
Thousands of refugees are now stranded at various locations around the globe.
The suspension was in an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday.
But in an email reviewed on Wednesday by The Associated Press, the US agency overseeing refugee processing and arrival told staff and stakeholders that “refugee arrival to the United States have been suspended until further notice”.
Among those affected are the more than 1,600 Afghans cleared to resettle in the US as part of the programme that the Biden administration set up after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
That number includes those who worked alongside American soldiers during the war as well as family members of active-duty US military personnel.
Mr Trump’s order had given the agency until January 27 before it began to halt all processing and travelling.
Now, however, it appears the timing in the order was moved up. It was not immediately clear what prompted the change.
Refugees are distinct from people who come directly to the US-Mexico border with the goal of eventually seeking asylum in the US.
Refugees must be living outside of the US to be considered for resettlement and are usually referred to the State Department by the United Nations.
They undergo extensive screening before coming to the US.
Once in the US, they are usually paired with a resettlement agency that helps them adjust to life in America.
That includes help finding a job and get their children enrolled in school.
