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.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized UK’s Starmer, France’s Macron, and Canada’s Carney for urging a halt to Israel’s military action in Gaza, accusing them of siding with Hamas and undermining justice.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil expressed hope that the G7 will issue a joint communique supporting Ukraine, despite tensions with the US over wording related to the conflict with Russia. Talks also continue on trade issues and sanctions.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to avoid tariffs on Cognac and to support ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, as the leaders discussed trade tensions and global conflicts.
Donald Trump’s flagship bill has passed the House. It promises tax cuts, military spending, and deep cuts to social programmes. The price: $2.4 trillion added to the U.S. debt.
Germany’s far-right AfD says the Bundeswehr has become too soft and wants to bring back discipline and a “warrior culture” inspired by the U.S. military under Trump, slamming progressive reforms as harmful to combat readiness.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi declared that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Israel launches an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid reports of potential Israeli military action and ongoing nuclear negotiations in Rome.
A rare naval misstep has shaken North Korea’s tightly choreographed military image, prompting an urgent internal probe and public scolding from Kim Jong Un.
Baku hosted the 6th plenary meeting of the UN’s GlobE Network, gathering anti-corruption officials from 92 countries to strengthen global cooperation and chart the network’s next steps.
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy aides in Washington has been charged with first-degree murder, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the fatal shooting of two embassy staffers in Washington as a vile act of antisemitic violence, intensifying fears of growing hostility toward Israelis abroad amid mounting global tensions.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
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Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
The Tehran Dialogue Forum 2025, scheduled for May 18–19, will host 200 international guests, including 40 current and former European officials.
Meta has signed another major solar energy agreement, acquiring 650 megawatts (MW) of clean power capacity across Kansas and Texas to support the rapid expansion of its AI-driven data centers, the company confirmed Thursday.
Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said Thursday that tariffs were a key point of discussion during the G7 finance ministers’ meeting, despite the issue being omitted from the final communique.
Northern France sees major farmer protests as key agricultural reforms face parliamentary review, sparking road blockades and rising tensions.
The Trump administration is moving toward lifting sanctions on Syria, but officials caution that coordinating between government agencies means the process will take longer than initially expected.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi declared that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Israel launches an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid reports of potential Israeli military action and ongoing nuclear negotiations in Rome.
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi declared that the United States would bear legal responsibility if Israel launches an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid reports of potential Israeli military action and ongoing nuclear negotiations in Rome.
A rare naval misstep has shaken North Korea’s tightly choreographed military image, prompting an urgent internal probe and public scolding from Kim Jong Un.
Baku hosted the 6th plenary meeting of the UN’s GlobE Network, gathering anti-corruption officials from 92 countries to strengthen global cooperation and chart the network’s next steps.
The suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy aides in Washington has been charged with first-degree murder, the U.S. Justice Department confirmed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the fatal shooting of two embassy staffers in Washington as a vile act of antisemitic violence, intensifying fears of growing hostility toward Israelis abroad amid mounting global tensions.
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