US Court Orders Faster Family Reunification for Afghan Refugees

DID Press: A federal court in the United States has ordered the State Department to expedite travel documents for family members of several Afghan refugees who supported US forces in Afghanistan, requiring action within 15 days and directing officials not to apply the travel ban restrictions while reviewing their cases.

Under the ruling issued by Judge Anthony Trenga, spouses and children of five out of seven Afghan plaintiffs who had already received permission to enter the United States must be allowed to reunite with their families. The State Department was also ordered to reconsider the cases of other family members and submit progress reports to the court every two weeks.

The lawsuit was filed following the implementation of a travel ban order issued during the administration of Donald Trump. The court ruled that such restrictions do not apply to approved refugees and their eligible family members.

The refugee advocacy organization Global Refuge welcomed the decision, describing it as an important step toward reuniting Afghan families who have waited for years to relocate to the United States.