Monday Morning Update -- September 2, 2025
Before we dive in, we want to express our deepest condolences to all Afghan families impacted by the earthquake over the weekend.
Welcome back from the August recess. As we turn the corner into September, there’s a lot to cover—from legislative action to policy shifts, systemic failures, and grassroots responses.
Let’s jump in
📜 Congressional Recess is Over — Advocacy Ramps Back Up
With lawmakers back in session, we’re entering a critical window for pushing forward the Enduring Welcome Act and Afghan Adjustment Act, pressing for oversight on matters related to relocation and resettlement, and demanding bipartisan hearings about Afghanistan. Keep eyes on September 17 for a key markup on the State Authorization within which the Enduring Welcome Act is expected to be included.
🛂 New State Department Visa Policy
On August 28, 2025, the U.S. Department of State announced a new policy clarifying that, effective immediately, consular officers will only adjudicate visa applications for individuals who are applying from their country of legal residence, or designated countries for residents of places without consular services. This policy is aimed at reducing uncertainty in the scheduling and processing of visa appointments by providing clearer geographic guidelines.
The change does not apply to Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, who are expressly exempted according to the announcement. SIVs will continue to be processed in line with existing procedures unless additional policy is announced.
While the clarification may provide some operational consistency, it raises immediate logistical concerns for Afghans in the refugee pipeline, particularly those in Pakistan, where many had been told by the U.S. government to relocate while awaiting processing. It appears this policy was implemented without considering that it costs hundreds (and sometimes over a thousand) US dollars for Afghans to maintain visas in Pakistan. We also understand that State Department has implemented this policy without prior consultation with Pakistani authorities, creating potential legal and security complications for Afghans currently residing there without recognized legal status.
We are hopeful that this policy will be accompanied by an increase in resources to support the consular sections in countries where large numbers of U.S.-affiliated Afghans have sought safety. Without those resources, the clarification may simply formalize a backlog rather than solve it.
AfghanEvac continues to push for coordination, transparency, and practical support for those who followed prior U.S. government guidance and now find themselves in limbo.
🚨 Pakistan Crackdown Escalates
Over the past week, AfghanEvac has received confirmed reports from across Pakistan of new waves of detentions, deportation threats, and official orders targeting Afghans, including those with POR (Proof of Registration) and ACC (Afghan Citizen Card) documents. Recent data shows that this is consistent with an increase in deportations.
A particularly troubling directive was issued on August 30 local authorities in at least one province, ordering immediate action against all undocumented Afghans and explicitly stating that no exceptions would be made, even for those with protection cards. This is part of a broader pattern of regional enforcement actions that are increasingly hostile and indiscriminate. We are working to validate whether or not this is a national directive.
Critically, the U.S. State Department has reportedly not communicated or coordinated with Pakistani authorities on the recent State Department policy change restricting visa adjudications to one’s country of residence. As a result, many Afghans—who relocated to Pakistan at the U.S. government’s direction—are now without legal protection, consular access, or clear options.
AfghanEvac is pressing for urgent diplomatic engagement and legal clarity to protect those who followed U.S. guidance and are now facing arrest or forced return. We put out a video yesterday with more context on the situation in Pakistan.
🖥️ CEAC System Failure
On August 30, 2025, a suspected system glitch in CEAC (the State Department’s visa tracking portal) caused unexpected status changes on many SIV cases. No official explanation has been issued, but this appears to be a technical error, not a policy change.
The timing—on the four-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal—added to the distress, with some applicants mistakenly believing CARE had resumed. These case status changes even impacted people who have already arrived in the United States.
SIV applicants remain exempt from the new visa interview policy announced last week. AfghanEvac is seeking answers and will share updates as they come. In the meantime, we encourage applicants to document and report any irregularities.
✍️ Four Years On: An Open Letter to the Diaspora
August marked the four-year anniversary of the fall of Kabul and subsequent withdrawal of all U.S. and allied forces. I shared a letter with our team here and one with the Afghan diaspora here reflecting on both the hard-won progress and the heart-wrenching setbacks. The trauma persists, but so does the community’s resilience and the push for accountability. And our Afghan allies are still waiting patiently, in hopes that our government will deliver on the promises made.
🏛️ Enduring Welcome Act — Broad Support, Building Pressure
H.R. 4995 now has over 28 bipartisan co-sponsors. The bill would codify the CARE office, compel the re-establishment of relocation infrastructure, and authorize coordination for voluntary departures, family reunifications, and long-term integration. Organizations from across the advocacy spectrum have signed on, and your organization can too: Sign On Here
👤 Spotlight: Robert Law
Robert Law, nominated to be DHS Under Secretary for Strategy, Policy, and Plans, is a central figure in recent anti-Afghan ally shifts. He reportedly drove the termination of TPS for Afghans and other groups, supported detentions of lawfully present Afghan allies, and was previously at FAIR and CIS—two organizations known for restrictionist immigration policies. His nomination is a pivotal flashpoint in how DHS policy will unfold in the coming months and the ultimate impact on our allies.
Even though he hasn’t yet been confirmed, he is in a senior level leadership position at DHS, essentially doing the job he’s waiting on the Senate to give him the okay to do. This is the main man at DHS responsible for driving harmful policies for our allies and we understand from reliable sources that he is among those making the case for deporting even SIVs out of our country. We hope that journalists will cover what he’s been up to soon.
📣 Press
Scott Peters, allies push bill to restart Afghan refugee relocation – KPBS News
Four years after Afghanistan withdrawal, veterans fight for left-behind allies – 10 News
Deportations of Afghan migrants from Pakistan surge, data shows – Amu News
Trump Cuts U.S. Funding for Afghan Allies’ Resettlement Programs – Khaama News
Rep. Scott Peters pushes for Afghan ally protection – Yahoo News
'If I go back to Afghanistan, I will be killed': He helped the American military. Now the US wants to deport him. – Boston Globe
We know the weight of this work is especially heavy right now. The path forward is tough—but we’re still in it, together.
Stay loud. Stay focused. Stay human.