Afghan refugees in U.S. face growing uncertainty amid anti-immigration policies

Afghan refugees in U.S. face growing uncertainty amid anti-immigration policies

A new analysis by the Afghanistan Analysts Network reveals worsening conditions for Afghan refugees in the United States, especially following executive orders by President Donald Trump. These policies have increased the legal and humanitarian vulnerability of many refugees.

Since August 2021—after the Taliban took control of Kabul—around 200,000 Afghans have arrived in the U.S., but many now live with mixed feelings of fear and hope due to shifting political tides and the potential rollback of government support should Trump return to office.

Roughly 10,000 of these refugees are under Temporary Protected Status but have received notices to leave the country. While some may find legal alternatives such as work permits or asylum applications, the risk of forced deportation remains high.
The analysis, based on interviews with refugees across several states, highlights major Afghan communities in California, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, and Texas. Texas alone received 11% of all green card holders from Afghanistan between 2020 and 2024, according to the U.S. Refugee Processing Center.

The Migration Policy Institute in Washington estimates the number of Afghan Americans or permanent residents reached about 220,000 by 2024, driven by decades of conflict and political instability in Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan Analysts Network described the suspension of temporary protection programs and the ban on new asylum claims as a “rude awakening” for the Afghan diaspora, leaving them among the most affected by dwindling support and rising anti-immigration sentiment.