U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has summoned Afghan migrants residing in the United States to report their documentation during the holiday season. This directive, which includes requests for scheduled check-ins on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, reflects the administration’s ongoing efforts to scrutinize migrants from Afghanistan. Correspondence reviewed by Bloomberg News indicates that other check-in appointments were scheduled for December 27 and December 30.
Those receiving these letters had previously been granted legal protection as “Afghan allies.” This status was established under a program initiated by former President Joe Biden in August 2021, aimed at safeguarding individuals who fled to the U.S. following the American military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan and the subsequent Taliban takeover.
Critics have expressed concern regarding the timing of these requests. 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.”
In contrast, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security characterized the check-ins as “routine” and “long-standing,” although they did not disclose the number of letters issued. The spokesperson asserted that ICE continues its regular operations during the holiday period, despite many government offices being closed on these federal holidays.
The timing of these check-ins follows significant shifts in U.S. immigration policy under President Donald Trump. This policy change stems from a November incident in which two National Guard troops were shot by Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who had previously collaborated with U.S. forces and the CIA before relocating to the U.S. in 2021 through the Biden program, Operation Allies Welcome. Lakanwal has since been charged with murder.
In response to the shooting, the Trump administration announced plans to review the cases of all refugees resettled under the Biden administration and to pause their green card applications. The administration is also considering the inclusion of a country on the president’s travel ban list as a significant factor in these reviews.
The refugee cap for fiscal year 2026 has been dramatically reduced to 7,500, down from 125,000. This change has raised concerns, particularly as the presidential determination appears to favor White South Afrikaners while not addressing the situation of Afghan migrants. Additionally, an exemption for Afghan nationals holding Special Immigration Visas—designed for those who provided assistance to the U.S. military—was removed when the entry ban list was expanded from 19 to over 30 countries. Afghans were already included on the ban list prior to this expansion.
Earlier this year, the State Department closed the office responsible for resettling Afghan refugees who had supported the U.S. war effort. Legislative attempts to compel the administration to reinstate these operations did not succeed, ultimately failing to be included in the defense policy bill signed by Trump this month.
This latest move by ICE, coupled with ongoing policy changes, highlights the challenges faced by Afghan migrants in the U.S., particularly during a time meant for celebration and reflection. The implications of these actions continue to resonate within the Afghan community and among advocates working to support them.
