On July 20, 2025, President Donald Trump announced his commitment to assist Afghan refugees stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since fleeing Afghanistan during the 2021 Taliban takeover. The statement, shared via social media, responds to concerns that some of these evacuees face potential deportation to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a situation that could endanger their lives due to their past affiliations with U.S. forces or Western organizations.
The UAE, a key U.S. ally, has hosted thousands of Afghan evacuees in facilities like Emirates Humanitarian City since the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Kabul in 2021. While nearly 200,000 Afghans have been resettled in the U.S. under previous administrations, many remain in limbo, awaiting processing or third-country resettlement. Recent reports suggest the UAE has already returned some evacuees to Afghanistan, prompting urgent calls for action from advocacy groups like #AfghanEvac, who emphasize the need to protect these individuals from Taliban retribution.
President Trump’s pledge marks a shift from his administration’s earlier policies, which included suspending the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in January 2025 and ending temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans in the U.S. in April. However, details on how the U.S. will facilitate assistance—whether through existing visa programs or new mechanisms—remain unclear, raising questions about implementation amid ongoing immigration restrictions.
The situation also affects over 1,500 Afghans held in similar conditions in Qatar’s Camp As Sayliyah, highlighting the broader challenge of resettling allies who supported U.S. efforts during the 20-year Afghan war. Advocacy groups and analysts stress the urgency of expediting processing and securing international partnerships to prevent further deportations, particularly for vulnerable groups like women, children, and former U.S. collaborators.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 21st, 2025
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