Afghan refugees in Pakistan face uncertainty after US freezes visa processing

The decision by US President Donald Trump’s administration to suspend visa processing for refugees has sent shockwaves through an English language school for Afghan refugees in Islamabad, Pakistan, leaving students and teachers in disbelief.

Sayed Hasib Ullah, a 20-year-old teacher whose own US resettlement application is pending, said that students, once enthusiastic about their futures, were left quiet or crying in class after hearing the news on Tuesday.

Many students, particularly those who fled the Taliban’s rule, expressed feelings of betrayal and hopelessness after waiting for years in uncertainty.

For many, including Fatima, a 57-year-old women’s rights advocate, the news has upended everything. Fatima, who had worked with US-funded organizations in Afghanistan and began learning English in Islamabad, was in the process of resettling with her family in the US.

Her hopes of enrolling her children in school and completing her 22-year-old daughter’s engineering degree now hang in the balance.

The school, which serves about 300 Afghan refugees, is one of the few places where these displaced individuals can study while awaiting US resettlement. However, with the latest development, they now face further uncertainty regarding their future.

Shawn VanDiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, estimated that between 10,000 and 15,000 Afghans are currently waiting for special immigration visas or resettlement in the U.S. after years of delays.

Many of these Afghans were instructed to relocate to third countries for processing, with Pakistan being a common destination. However, the situation has become increasingly difficult, as Pakistan has begun deporting tens of thousands of Afghans due to economic and security challenges.

Adding to the frustration, nearly 1,660 Afghans cleared by the US for resettlement, including family members of US military personnel, now face canceled flights due to the visa processing halt.

Students and teachers at the Islamabad school, some of whom had received travel documentation or hopeful emails, are left in confusion, reaching out to UN agencies and the US embassy for answers.

Unfortunately, many have yet to receive any clear responses.

As these refugees face an uncertain future, Sayed Hasib Ullah expressed his deep disappointment: “We’ve been waiting for three years with the hope of starting a new life in America, but now, after all the support we’ve given, we feel betrayed.”

Many, like Fatima, now question the promises that were made to them as they wait for clarity from the US government. "We helped you, and now we expect help back from you," Hasib Ullah added, echoing the sentiment shared by many of his students.