U.S. Suspends Visas for Afghan Allies Awaiting Entry

Thousands of Afghan translators and other allies who aided U.S. troops face uncertainty after visa program halted

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The U.S. Department of State announced it is suspending visas for 19 countries, including Afghanistan, leaving thousands of Afghan allies who helped American troops during the war still waiting to enter the United States. Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran and founder of the nonprofit #AfghanEvac, says many of those waiting have already been vetted and approved, but now face an uncertain future as the visa program has stalled.

Why it matters

This decision impacts thousands of Afghans who risked their lives to support the U.S. military mission, raising concerns about the U.S. government's commitment to its allies and the potential consequences for future military operations that rely on local support.

The details

The visa suspension comes after a shooting incident in Washington, D.C. involving an Afghan national who had served alongside U.S. troops. Following that incident, the Trump administration halted visas for Afghanistan, and a recent spending bill passed by Congress authorized no new visas, further stalling the process. VanDiver says 5,000 visas for principal applicants remain unfilled, and the suspension could mean those visas "could last forever" with no new ones being issued.

  • The U.S. Department of State announced the visa suspension earlier this week.
  • The visa program for Afghan allies was established prior to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

The players

Shawn VanDiver

A 12-year Navy veteran and the founder and president of #AfghanEvac, a San Diego-based nonprofit that has worked with the U.S. government and other organizations to help relocate Afghan allies and their families.

#AfghanEvac

A San Diego-based nonprofit that has worked with the U.S. government and other organizations to help relocate Afghan allies and their families.

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What they’re saying

“These are folks who are translators. These are people that fought for our mission. These are people that fought out war for us. In some cases, we handed them guns and said, 'go kill people for us,' and they did that, and now we've left them behind.”

— Shawn VanDiver, Founder and President, #AfghanEvac (nbcsandiego.com)

“They believed in the idea of America, they stood up for our values, they believed in us when we told them we would stand by them and one they're being wholesale betrayed.”

— Shawn VanDiver, Founder and President, #AfghanEvac (nbcsandiego.com)

What’s next

VanDiver said he will continue advocating for Afghan allies and pressing lawmakers to revisit the issue, even if it takes a future administration to resolve.

The takeaway

This decision raises serious concerns about the U.S. government's commitment to its allies and the potential long-term consequences for future military operations that rely on local support. It underscores the need for a more reliable and consistent approach to supporting those who risk their lives to aid American forces.