U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has requested that Afghan migrants residing in the United States report for check-ins during the holiday season, a move that raises concerns among advocacy groups. Notices sent to various individuals indicate appointments for document verification on significant dates such as December 25 and January 1. Other appointments are scheduled for December 27 and December 30, according to letters reviewed by Bloomberg News.
This latest action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to tighten immigration policies, particularly affecting those from Afghanistan. ICE has previously detained migrants attending such appointments, including those seeking green card interviews. Many recipients of these letters had previously been granted legal protections, classified as “Afghan allies” under a program initiated by former President Joe Biden in August 2021 to safeguard those who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover.
Critics of the check-ins have pointed to the timing, suggesting that ICE is exploiting federal holidays when access to legal counsel and advocacy services is limited. Shawn VanDiver, founder of the nonprofit group AfghanEvac, stated, “ICE is using federal and religious holidays to detain Afghans when access to legal counsel, courts, and advocates is at its lowest. This is not routine administrative scheduling.”
In contrast, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security characterized the check-ins as “routine” and “long-standing,” though no specific details were provided about the number of letters distributed. The spokesperson emphasized that ICE continues its standard operations throughout the holiday season, despite the federal government being closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.
These developments follow significant shifts in U.S. immigration policy under former President Trump, particularly after the November shooting involving two National Guard members by Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. Lakanwal had previously worked with U.S. forces and the CIA in Afghanistan before arriving in the United States in 2021 through the Biden program known as Operation Allies Welcome. He has since been charged with murder.
Since the incident, the Trump administration has announced plans to re-evaluate the cases of all refugees who were resettled under the Biden administration. Furthermore, it has suspended green card applications and indicated that the inclusion of a country on the president’s travel ban list will be considered a “significant negative factor” in these cases. The refugee cap for the fiscal year 2026 has been drastically reduced to 7,500 from 125,000, with the presidential determination favoring White South Afrikaners while failing to mention Afghan nationals.
In addition to these changes, the administration has removed exemptions for Afghan nationals holding Special Immigration Visas. This visa category is designed for individuals who provided support to the U.S. government or military in Afghanistan. The expansion of the entry ban list now includes nationals from over 30 countries, affecting Afghan nationals who were already on the list prior to the expansion.
Earlier this year, the State Department closed the office dedicated to resettling Afghan refugees who had aided the American military effort. Legislative attempts on Capitol Hill to mandate the revival of these operations have not succeeded, as these provisions did not make it into the defense policy bill signed by Trump.
The ongoing situation raises significant concerns about the treatment of Afghan migrants in the U.S. and the implications of these policy changes on their legal status and safety. As advocacy groups continue to respond, the impact of these actions on individuals and families remains to be fully understood.
