For many Afghan women who risked everything for democracy, the dream of safety in America has turned into a nightmare. Among them is 57-year-old Fatima, a lifelong women’s rights defender, who now sits in uncertainty in Islamabad, Pakistan, after a devastating decision by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Just months ago, Fatima and her 15-year-old daughter were preparing to fly to the U.S. through a special resettlement program. Fatima had spent decades working on U.S.-funded projects in Afghanistan, standing up for women’s rights even in the most dangerous circumstances. But now, following a new executive order signed by Trump, all Afghan citizens — including those like Fatima who were promised refuge — are barred from entering the United States.
“We are not al-Qaeda. We are the ones who stood by NATO forces, gave everything for peace and democracy,” Fatima told Reuters. “Being abandoned like this is not just tragic — it is heartbreaking.”
Trump’s June 5 proclamation bans nationals from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, citing threats of terrorism. The ban has upended the lives of thousands of Afghans, many of whom had already begun the resettlement process. Refugees like Fatima had followed every instruction, waited patiently, and in some cases, even sold their belongings in anticipation of a new life.
The U.S. had previously pledged to help Afghan allies, particularly after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The Biden administration introduced the P-2 visa program, targeting those who had worked for U.S. organizations, NGOs, or media. However, that hope has now been dashed.
According to refugee support agencies, between 10,000 and 15,000 Afghans are currently stuck in Pakistan awaiting U.S. visa approval. While those in the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program — mainly interpreters and those who worked directly with U.S. forces — are exempt from the ban, many others like Fatima are left in limbo.
Fatima had never planned to leave Afghanistan. But after the Taliban regained control, her work advocating for women made her a potential target. Following instructions from U.S. officials, she relocated to Pakistan in 2023 for visa processing. In January 2025, she was told to send in her family’s passports — a hopeful sign they would soon depart. Then, everything stopped.
Not only has communication from the U.S. gone silent, but Pakistan has also restarted efforts to deport undocumented Afghans. Many resettlement candidates are now afraid to even leave their homes, worried about being arrested and sent back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Taliban maintains that it respects women’s rights “according to Islamic law,” though it continues to ban girls from high school and restrict women’s travel without a male guardian.
“This is devastating,” said Mahbouba Seraj, a prominent women’s rights activist in Kabul. “These women were ready, vetted, and had nothing left in Afghanistan. They have now been betrayed.”
For now, thousands of Afghan women and families wait — not just for visas, but for justice, protection, and the promises once made to them by the United States.
