Afghan Refugees Face Uncertainty as US Immigration Cases Stall

DID Press: Hundreds of Afghan refugees in the United States are facing growing uncertainty after the Trump administration suspended the processing of Afghan immigration applications, leaving many at risk of losing work authorization, legal status and long-term stability.

The suspension followed a November 2025 shooting in Washington involving an Afghan national that left one member of the US National Guard dead. Following the incident, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) halted the processing of Afghan immigration applications pending further review, while the US State Department suspended visa issuance for Afghan passport holders.

Mirwais Dawoodzai, a former Afghan police officer who fled Afghanistan in 2021 and was granted refuge in the United States, said he is still waiting for his permanent resident card. With his work permit set to expire later this year, he fears losing both his job and driver’s license.

Another Afghan refugee, identified as Ms. Khan, arrived in the United States through a special program for Afghans who assisted US forces. She is also awaiting a decision on her Green Card application. Her work authorization has already expired, preventing her from obtaining legal employment.

“Life has become very difficult here. Without money, you can’t pay rent or electricity bills, and every day brings new challenges,” she said.

According to the report, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled in June that the nationwide suspension of immigration case processing was unlawful and ordered USCIS to resume reviewing approximately two million pending applications. The US government has appealed the ruling, and processing continues to move slowly.

Juliana Larsen, co-founder of the Arizona Refugee Center, said many Afghans with expired work permits are no longer able to secure lawful employment, while employers have become increasingly reluctant to hire applicants lacking valid documentation.

Her colleague, Robin Petersen, said the organization has assisted hundreds of Afghan refugees facing similar challenges but noted that immigration processing remains slow, with no clear timeline for resolving the backlog.

Despite the prolonged delays, many Afghan refugees say they remain hopeful that their cases will eventually be processed, allowing them to rebuild stable lives in the United States after fleeing Afghanistan.