Two Democratic representatives have criticised the Trump administration’s decision to shut down the office responsible for the relocation and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the United States.
Dina Titus, a Democratic representative from Nevada, condemned the move, stating that Trump is turning his back on those who risked everything to stand with the U.S., calling it a disgrace.
In a post on X, Titus emphasised that the office coordinating Afghan resettlement efforts has protected thousands of Afghan allies from Taliban retaliation.
Meanwhile, Gregory Meeks, a Democratic congressman from New York, accused Trump of abandoning Washington’s Afghan allies, despite bipartisan support in Congress for their resettlement.
Earlier, Reuters reported that officials at the State Department’s office overseeing Afghan resettlement have been instructed to prepare for its closure by April 2025.
According to Reuters, if the closure proceeds, approximately 200,000 eligible Afghan refugees will be denied the opportunity to relocate to the United States.
A supporter of Afghan refugee resettlement told the news agency that those who may be barred from entering the U.S. if the office closes include families of Afghan-American military personnel, children and relatives of Afghans residing in the U.S., and tens of thousands of Afghans who worked for the U.S. government during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
The office, which expanded its operations in October 2022, has so far relocated approximately 118,000 Afghans to the United States.
The White House has yet to issue an official statement regarding the closure of this office.
