Five Years After the Afghan Evacuation, a Step Toward Keeping Families Together
Nearly five years after more than 17,000 Afghans were evacuated to the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, a federal court has ruled that the federal government cannot use travel-ban restrictions to prevent the spouses and children of Afghan asylees from joining their families in the United States.
Global Refuge—which has accompanied Afghan neighbors since the 2021 evacuation—welcomed the July 30 ruling while emphasizing that many families remain separated. The organization is calling for swift implementation of the ruling and broader protections for at-risk Afghans who have already been vetted and approved for lawful entry.