The uncertainty faced by a number of Afghans with U.S. immigration cases under P1 and P2 categories living in Pakistan has led them to send an open letter to U.S. President Donald Trump.
In the letter, they stressed that for the past three years, they have been facing growing challenges in Pakistan and are deprived of basic human rights such as the right to work and education.
“We humbly and with hope in your sense of responsibility sincerely request you to make a humanitarian and decisive decision for the loyal allies of the United States. This decision will give thousands of families who have paid a great price for the United States a chance to live again, and it will add to your strong leadership record. The prolonged suspension of this program has endangered the lives of thousands of women, men, and children. At this critical time, we expect that exceptional consideration be given to refugees committed to American values, and the path to their resettlement be cleared,” Reads a part of the letter.
One U.S. immigration applicant, speaking anonymously, said: “Pakistan has taken advantage of the situation by raising rents, gas, electricity, and food prices to record highs.
They constantly threaten that Afghans will be expelled from Pakistan. We are waiting for the USRAP program to reopen, for our cases to be processed, and for all those included in the program to be transferred to the U.S.”
Another applicant stated: “We ask the new U.S. administration to reactivate the USRAP program as soon as possible and transfer us, because we cannot return to Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, Fox News reported that a U.S. State Department spokesperson told the network that the department is reviewing the program and the office coordinating Afghan relocation efforts (CARE), but no final decision has yet been made.
A part of the Fox News report reads: “A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital: The Department is actively reviewing the future of the Afghan relocation program and the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE). At this time, no final decision has been made. CARE continues to support Afghan allies and partners who have already been moved to our overseas case processing platforms.”
Mohammad Khan Mohammadzai, a migration rights activist, said: “According to a law passed in 2009, the U.S. government must honor its commitment to those who cooperated with the U.S. and its military allies, providing them with legal and special visas. It must protect them from the risks they may face in the future due to their cooperation.”
This comes as Trump, 101 days ago, signed an executive order on his first day in office to suspend the U.S. refugee resettlement program.