U.S. Abandons Afghan Allies as Trump Administration Shuts Down Resettlement Programs
Last week, the Trump administration eliminated the Congressionally mandated entity that oversees vetted Afghan allies’ travel to the U.S. and stated that it will dismantle the program that oversees their resettlement, continuing the series of blows dealt to our Afghan allies since January 20.
In a document sent by the State Department to multiple Congressional Committees on May 29, the Department announced that “the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) Office will be eliminated and its functions will be realigned to the Afghanistan Affairs Office.”
The decision angered Rep. Dina Titus (D–Nev.), sponsor of the CARE Authorization Act, which passed with bipartisan support in November 2024. The act states that the Secretary of State “shall appoint” a coordinator for a term of three years to assist in relocating and resettling “eligible Afghan allies,” facilitating the relocation of American citizens or legal permanent residents, and coordinating with the interagency.
On May 29, Titus shared a video on X of a question she asked of Secretary of State Marco Rubio only a week earlier, as he came before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “We are going to continue with this Afghan relocation…this CARE office, is what you’re committing to me?” Titus asks. “We’re going to comply with the statutory requirements,” Rubio replies.
“Clearly, he lied,” Titus commented.
Two days later, the White House’s Technical Supplement to the 2026 Budget included notice that the government will soon terminate the Enduring Welcome program, “the U.S. Government’s long-term resettlement program which relies on standard immigration pathways for immigrant visa, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa, and refugee admissions programs.”
“The Department will shut down the Enduring Welcome program by the end of FY 2025,” the document explains. With no additional funds for the program, the document states that “any remaining prior-year balances will be used solely to finalize contractual and/or other legal obligations.”
I asked the State Department whether CARE will recommence funding travel for vetted allies prior to its July 1 sundown date, a
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