Ali Amini, an Afghan who was only days away from starting a new life in the United States, now faces an uncertain future after former President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze aid for resettling Afghan refugees. This move has left Amini and over 40,000 Afghans, who were granted U.S. visas, stranded abroad. The suspension of state aid has disrupted housing, jobs, and transportation, putting their safety at risk.
Amini had completed the necessary processing in Albania, where he was staying, and was ready to board a flight to the U.S. last Tuesday. But Trump’s decision to halt aid has cast doubt on his journey. “I don’t know if we will ever get on that plane and, if so, whether it will go to Kabul or the United States,” Amini said, speaking from Shengjin, a coastal town in northern Albania. He is sheltering there with 300 fellow Afghans.
Thousands Facing Taliban Threats
The aid freeze, which impacts over 40,000 Afghan visa holders, has led to a suspension of flights for those who were approved for special U.S. visas. These individuals are at risk of retribution from the Taliban. According to Shawn VanDiver, head of the #AfghanEvac coalition of U.S. veterans and advocacy groups, the suspension affects Afghans who had worked for U.S. military or other American organizations during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Amini, who arrived in Albania more than a month ago, had secured visas for his wife and three children, the youngest being only six months old. He and his family had been living in hiding for three years, fearing Taliban retaliation after he worked as a locksmith for U.S. troops before their withdrawal.
When Amini heard about the aid freeze, his wife was brought to tears, and their children grew anxious about their future. “If we return, they will kill us because, to the Taliban, we are essentially Americans and their number one enemies,” Amini explained.
Stranded and Uncertain
Most of the affected individuals are currently stranded in Albania, along with others in Pakistan, Qatar, and Afghanistan, VanDiver added. The freeze has left thousands of Afghan families in a state of uncertainty, unsure of when or if they will be able to reach safety in the United States.
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