Women’s Health Advocates and Refugees in Limbo

Hamida dedicated her efforts to establishing health clinics for women in rural regions, along with developing a network of midwives. Meanwhile, Mohammad served the U.S. Army by providing security for detainees. Hekmatullah’s brother was involved in U.S. government projects, while Suhrab’s father was a respected judge known for handling sensitive legal matters. Kheyal trained fieldworkers for an international aid organization. After the tumultuous U.S. military withdrawal in 2021, all of them, along with their families, fled Afghanistan to Pakistan. They undertook the extensive process to legally enter the United States as refugees, with some even holding flight tickets to America.

Today, however, they find themselves trapped in uncertainty.

Impact of Policy Changes on Refugees

One of the first actions taken by President Donald Trump upon his inauguration was to suspend the Refugee Admissions Program for a period of 90 days. This halt effectively stopped all paperwork processing for individuals fleeing persecution seeking refuge in the U.S. According to a report by a refugee agency to TIME, over 500 flights for more than 1,000 vetted refugees from the region were canceled.

Read More: How Christian Groups Are Responding to the Foreign-Aid Freeze

Soon after the Executive Order was issued, the Pakistani government, which hosts around 1.5 million Afghan refugees and asylum seekers—many of whom fled during the Soviet occupation—announced that Afghan residents unable to secure relocation must leave Rawalpindi and Islamabad by March 31. Failing to do so would result in repatriation.

Shawn VanDiver, founder of AfghanEvac, a coalition of veterans and support organizations, mentioned that about 15,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan were cleared to travel. However, they remain in a precarious deadlock, unable to progress in their applications or return. Their cases will stagnate until at least April 25, possibly longer. Beyond March 31, they risk facing increased hostility in Pakistan, while returning to Afghanistan only brings threats of poverty and violence. One refugee revealed he had been warned about “unknown armed men” targeting those who return. “The only armed individuals in Afghanistan are the Taliban,” he remarked.

TIME spoke with several individuals affected by this pause, who chose to remain anonymous due to fears of repercussions from Afghan or Pakistani authorities.

Hamida’s Struggles in Pakistan

Hamida had plans to fly to Doha and then to Pennsylvania with her husband and young child on February 3. However, on January 25, she received an email from her contact at the International Organization for Migration notifying her that her flight had been canceled. She had fled Afghanistan at her father-in-law’s urging, who cautioned that her previous work with maternal health NGOs could jeopardize her family’s safety.

Now, filled with dread at the thought of returning, Hamida fears for her life. “I’m absolutely certain I wouldn’t survive more than a week there,” she states. Currently, she lives in a cramped one-room dwelling. The lengthy 30-month visa process, during which her refugee status was confirmed, has depleted their savings. To avoid detection by Pakistani authorities, they keep their door locked and remain hidden for most of the day. Her husband no longer accepts labor jobs, their child seldom plays outside, and they only venture out for groceries at night. Once a project manager overseeing 60 staff members, Hamida now supports her family through tailoring from home. “We’ll try to survive here as best we can,” she declares. “Returning to Afghanistan is simply not an option.”

Read More: How Trump’s Foreign-Aid Freeze Is ‘Shaking the Whole System’

Hekmatullah’s Brother’s Uncertain Future

In contrast, Hekmatullah’s brother appears to be in a somewhat better position. Hekmatullah arrived in the U.S. a year earlier on a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) intended for those who assisted U.S. forces. He can provide some financial support to his brother, yet he faces his own challenges. Hekmatullah had expected his brother to arrive in Missouri on February 5, but learned on January 25 from his local refugee resettlement agency that the trip had been canceled.

Now, Hekmatullah’s brother, who collaborated with various American NGOs during the conflict, is constantly on the move, staying at different rentals and friends’ homes to avoid capture and deportation back to Afghanistan. “The Pakistani government is actively searching for Afghan refugees to arrest and send back,” Hekmatullah explains. “But in Afghanistan, being sent back means imprisonment.” (The Pakistani embassy did not respond to inquiries.)

Kheyal’s Family Facing Increased Pressure

Kheyal’s family had completed their paperwork, with their travel documents requested in December. He, along with his wife and children, expected to receive flight details any day. “Up until January 20, we were genuinely hopeful,” he recalls. Now, they rely on savings from his previous employment, which he left in anticipation of moving to the U.S. The Pakistani government has recently modified visa policies, now mandating monthly extensions instead of the previous six-month options, each costing $200 plus various “handling fees.” Police frequently visit his apartment building.

Speaking to TIME in the early hours, Kheyal shares that no one in his household has been able to sleep. “When we found out the process was paused, it took away our ability to eat or sleep,” he admits. “My children are feeling depressed. They have access to social media and hear everything. I can’t shield them from the truth.” He hopes to outlast this pause while remaining in Pakistan.

Read More: Inside the Chaos, Confusion, and Heartbreak of Trump’s Foreign-Aid Freeze

Suhrab’s Family Seeking Urgent Relocation

Suhrab’s family cannot afford to wait much longer. His father, a judge, had to go into hiding when the Taliban regained control, fearing retaliation from those he had sentenced. The family arrived in Pakistan in January 2022, with their resettlement supported by Welcome Corps, a Biden-era initiative that allows groups of U.S. citizens, in this case, a church in East Tennessee, to sponsor refugees. However, that program is now on hold.

From a safe distance in the West, Suhrab often works double shifts to provide for them, while his brother, who is now outside the region, also sends money. The family and their church group are actively searching for another country willing to accept them, even though very few nations are currently issuing visas to Afghan passport holders. “I’m filled with dread,” Suhrab confesses during a lunch break. “What if they get caught and are forced to leave Pakistan? I can’t imagine what awaits them.”

The church group shares his concerns. “I’m astonished that our American government is taking this position, especially against refugees,” comments Melva McGinnis, who coordinates the Welcome Corps program at the church, which has previously assisted another Afghan family. “In the past, it seemed anyone could enter, whether legally or otherwise. It’s unjust that those trying to enter the States responsibly are being turned away.”

The Refugee Situation Under Scrutiny

Trump’s decisions were not entirely surprising given his previous attempts to significantly cut refugee admissions during his last administration, even before the COVID-19 restrictions. Surveys indicate a wide range of Americans across the political spectrum support accepting refugees, with even stronger approval for those from Afghanistan who worked alongside U.S. forces. Under President Biden, annual refugee admissions have surged from a historic low of 11,400 in 2021 to over 100,000 projected for 2024—though the total during his term is still far less than the numbers admitted under President Carter (375,000) and President Reagan (660,000 over two terms).

Perhaps even more alarming is the situation faced by Afghan military personnel who served beside U.S. forces. Mohammad, who provided security for detainees at a U.S. air base, has applied twice for entry into the United States. After an 18-month wait for his SIV, he also sought a refugee visa, but his case was still pending when the three-month pause commenced. He, along with his wife, two brothers, and sister-in-law, are currently living in a makeshift shack in a slum. “My situation is desperate,” he shares. “We can only afford one meal a day, relying on the generosity of locals.”

VanDiver from AfghanEvac is advocating for a bipartisan initiative in Congress to create an exception for the already-approved refugees stranded in Pakistan or Afghanistan, estimating around 65,000 individuals, with 50,000 still in Afghanistan. “Our coalition represents a diverse cross-section of America,” he states. “Ninety percent of the American public supports this initiative. It’s a cause that resonates widely.”

Eric Lebo, a former Navy Reservist who served with Mohammad at the air base, underscores the significance of their contributions. “We couldn’t have achieved our missions without him and his soldiers,” says Lebo, now a truck driver in California. “There’s a lot of discussion about refugee and immigration issues, but people like Mohammad are soldiers who fought alongside U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Their lives are in jeopardy.”

Mohammad’s family remains in Afghanistan, and he recently shared a chilling photo of his brother, who was shot in the face, likely mistaken for him by the assailants.