Trump administration tells diplomats to stop processing US visas for Afghan nationals

The administration of US President Donald Trump has instructed American diplomats around the world to halt all visa processing for Afghan citizens, according to a State Department cable.

Reuters reported that the order effectively stops the special immigration program designed for Afghans who assisted US forces during the two-decade military presence in Afghanistan.

The cable, issued to every US embassy and consulate on Friday, directs consular staff to deny all immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications from Afghan passport holders. This includes individuals seeking Special Immigrant Visas.

The directive comes days after an incident in Washington, DC, in which a former member of a CIA-supported Afghan unit was accused of shooting two US National Guard soldiers. One of the service members later died.

On Saturday, the State Department pointed out a message Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X the previous day.

In that statement, Rubio said visa processing for “ALL individuals” carrying Afghan passports would be “paused.”

The cable—first reported by the New York Times—said the suspension was intended to ensure that applicants’ identities and qualifications could be verified under US law.