Biden administration is quietly preparing to shut down the Afghan resettlement office by April, a move that could leave up to 200,000 vulnerable people stranded with no safe haven in America. The shocking decision threatens Afghan allies, war veterans’ families, and countless others who risked their lives assisting U.S. forces during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
According to officials and insiders, the closure of the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) would effectively slam the door on thousands of Afghans desperately waiting for resettlement. Many of them include children awaiting reunification with parents, interpreters who helped U.S. troops, and family members of Afghan-American military personnel.
“This is a national disgrace, a betrayal of our Afghan allies and American veterans alike,” said Shawn VanDiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, a coalition working with the government to relocate Afghan refugees.
Despite mounting concerns, the White House and State Department have remained silent, offering no official response to questions about the planned shutdown.
U.S. Refugee Program in Chaos
Originally established in August 2021 after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, CARE was made permanent in 2022 to facilitate refugee relocation. Since then, it has successfully resettled over 118,000 Afghans. But now, sources indicate that CARE is preparing for an abrupt shutdown, with refugee processing centers in Qatar and Albania also at risk of closing.
This development comes as President Trump, who returned to office in January, froze all pending refugee program applications for a 90-day review. This freeze also halted crucial foreign aid funding, further disrupting relocation efforts. More than 3,000 Afghans, already vetted and approved for resettlement, remain stranded in limbo—some for months.
Among the most vulnerable are over 20 unaccompanied minors stuck in refugee camps, their futures hanging in uncertainty. These children, once promised a new life in America, now face an uncertain fate as mental health and support programs are cut due to the funding freeze.
Will the U.S. Abandon Its Afghan Allies?
High-ranking officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, are expected to finalize CARE’s fate. Waltz, a former special forces soldier who fought in Afghanistan, is seen as a key decision-maker in the process.
“Every option is on the table,” said one source, speaking anonymously due to fears of retaliation.
Meanwhile, the Taliban continue their brutal crackdown on those who assisted the U.S. during the war. Reports from the United Nations indicate that former Afghan government officials and military personnel have been arrested, tortured, and even executed, despite the Taliban’s claims of offering general amnesty.
If CARE is shut down, America’s main pathway for Afghan resettlement will vanish. An estimated 110,000 Afghans still in Afghanistan are waiting for Special Immigration Visas (SIVs) and refugee status reviews, while another 40,000 have already been vetted and approved for flights to the U.S. But without CARE, their future remains uncertain.
Adding to the crisis, nearly 50,000 Afghan refugees are currently stranded in over 90 countries—half of them in Pakistan—awaiting final processing for U.S. resettlement. Without immediate action, these individuals could be left in limbo indefinitely.
As the Biden administration moves forward with its plans, the question remains: Will the U.S. stand by its allies, or will it abandon them to an uncertain and dangerous fate?
