U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has called on Afghan migrants residing in the United States to report for document checks during the holiday season. This decision, which includes scheduled appointments on significant dates such as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, marks a notable escalation in the Trump administration’s approach to immigration policy affecting Afghan nationals.
According to letters reviewed by Bloomberg News, ICE is scheduling “report check-ins” for Afghan migrants, with requests for meetings on December 25 and January 1, along with additional appointments on December 27 and December 30. Many of those receiving these letters had been granted legal protection under a program initiated by former President Joe Biden in August 2021. This program aimed to safeguard individuals who fled Afghanistan following the U.S. military withdrawal and the Taliban’s takeover.
Critics of the timing and nature of these requests have voiced concerns. Shawn VanDiver, founder of the nonprofit organization 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.” He emphasized the potential risks for migrants attending these check-ins, as ICE has previously arrested individuals responding to similar formal requests, including those attending interviews for green cards.
In contrast, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security defended the check-ins, describing them as “routine” and “long-standing.” The spokesperson did not provide details on the number of letters sent. The agency maintains that it continues standard operations during the holiday period, despite the fact that Christmas and New Year’s Day are federal holidays when most government offices remain closed.
The recent call-ins follow a series of changes to U.S. immigration policy under President Trump. These changes have intensified scrutiny of Afghans in response to a November incident in which two National Guard troops were shot by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who had previously worked with U.S. forces and the CIA. Lakanwal, charged with murder, entered the U.S. through the Biden program known as Operation Allies Welcome.
In light of this incident, the Trump administration announced plans to reevaluate the cases of all refugees resettled under the Biden administration. This includes freezing green card applications and considering “significant negative factors” that may impact an individual’s case, such as a country’s inclusion on the president’s travel ban list.
Further complicating matters for Afghan migrants, the administration has drastically reduced the refugee cap for the fiscal year 2026 to 7,500, down from 125,000. This new determination prioritizes White South Afrikaners and does not specifically mention Afghans. Additionally, the administration has eliminated an exemption for Afghan nationals with Special Immigration Visas, which were intended for those who provided services to the U.S. government or military.
The State Department also shuttered the office responsible for resettling Afghan refugees earlier this year. Attempts to urge the administration to restore these operations were unsuccessful, as proposed measures did not make it into the defense policy bill signed by Trump this month.
As Afghan migrants navigate these complex and often perilous circumstances, the implications of the U.S. immigration policies continue to unfold, raising significant concerns about the future of those who sought safety following the turmoil in Afghanistan.
