The U.S. State Department office responsible for Afghan resettlement is reviewing plans to close by April, according to officials and sources familiar with the matter. The move, part of a broader government review, could impact thousands of Afghans awaiting relocation to the United States.
The Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) was established during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 to assist Afghans eligible for resettlement. Initially a temporary initiative, CARE became a permanent program in October 2022 and has since facilitated the relocation of approximately 118,000 people.
Under the current review, options are being considered for the office’s future, including the potential closure of processing centers in Qatar and Albania, where nearly 3,000 Afghans, including unaccompanied minors, are waiting for final relocation steps.
The review aligns with President Trump’s broader efforts to reassess government programs, streamline spending, and adjust foreign aid policies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are among those expected to evaluate the next steps.
110,000 Afghans in Afghanistan with pending SIV or refugee applications.
40,000 individuals already cleared for relocation awaiting final processing.
50,000 more in 90 countries, including Pakistan, in various stages of resettlement.
Advocacy groups have expressed concern about the program’s future, noting its role in supporting those who worked alongside the U.S. during the 20-year engagement in Afghanistan.
Trump’s administration has initiated a 90-day review of the refugee program to assess its effectiveness and alignment with foreign policy priorities. Meanwhile, organizations involved in relocation efforts continue to work with officials to explore solutions for those affected.
The White House and the State Department have not commented on the discussions. As the review progresses, officials are expected to weigh various options to ensure a balanced approach that considers policy priorities and commitments made to Afghan partners.
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It com...
Armenia is looking to turn shared environmental challenges into opportunities for regional cooperation, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan highlig...
A Norwegian teenager recruited by a Swedish criminal network to carry out a contract killing in Britain has been sentenced to 20 years’ deten...
The Saudi-led coalition said early Thursday that it intercepted and destroyed a drone over Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.
Yemen’s Houthis have claimed responsibility for the recent drone and missile strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran and Riyadh and at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia, vowing to carry out more attacks in the coming days.
The U.S. has banned government employees working in Saudi Arabia from using airports in the country without special authorisation. It comes after a deadly Houthi strike on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people last week.
Ukraine's soldiers have had their access to Starlink satellite internet restricted. Kyiv's troops use the terminals, made by Elon Musk's SpaceX, to pilot drones. A source in Ukraine's Defence Ministry said the restrictions would make it harder for Kyiv's army to down Russian drones.
Ukraine is set to restart attacks on Russian oil refineries following a two-day pause, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, amid growing tensions with Washington over energy strikes and U.S. military support.
A Norwegian teenager recruited by a Swedish criminal network to carry out a contract killing in Britain has been sentenced to 20 years’ detention after police uncovered the murder plot.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called it “a disgrace” that Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. Attacks are continuing from Russia and Ukraine as media reports say Ukraine has almost run out of Patriot interceptor missiles.
Romanian rescuers resumed their search for seven missing sailors on Friday (16 October) after a drone strike set a chemical tanker ablaze near the country’s Black Sea coast. The attacks have raised fresh security concerns along a vital regional trade route.
Students, lecturers and university staff marched on Argentina’s Congress in Buenos Aires on Thursday to demand President Javier Milei’s government implement a university funding law which would boost staff salaries and increase financial support to institutions to cover operating costs
A 16-year-old shooter opened fire on Thursday at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon in the United States, killing four people, including three children, before being killed by an armed member of the community who had pursued the assailant into the school, police said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment