CITIZENS COMPASS—Hundreds of thousands of Afghans worked with the U.S. government during their 20-year war here, as translators, drivers, civil society workers and doctors.
Following America’s chaotic withdrawal under the Biden administration in 2021, the U.S. set up a refugee program that would provide a path for Afghans to move to the U.S., a lightning rod for many Republicans.
When Trump returned to power this year, he cancelled refugee programs, dismantled the office dedicated to helping Afghans relocate and barred them from entering the U.S. altogether.
On paper, the U.S. says they are still processing cases for people who worked with the U.S. military directly. But many are stuck in Afghanistan, living in fear.
On a recent visit to Afghanistan, CNN International Correspondent Isobel Yeung was able to speak with several such individuals across the country who spent years working with the U.S., and have now been left behind, living in constant fear under the Taliban.
CNN has disguised their identities due to safety concerns.
One man told Yeung over the phone: “I know that the Taliban is searching for me. I’m hiding. I can’t go outside freely. If they find me, I’m confident that they will imprison me. They will torture me. They will kill me. Donald Trump became U.S. President. He signed the executive order and all our cases stopped. We stood with the U.S. forces side by side for a long time, but now they banned us. Why? Where is the justice?”
One woman agreed to meet with CNN in person.
She says that it’s very risky, that she risks running into the Taliban, she risks traveling by herself and she’s very scared. But she says it’s worth it because she really needs to share her story.
As a doctor, this woman worked for American charities. With recent U.S. aid cuts, she lost her job. She now feels that her relationship with U.S. organizations has put her and her family’s life in danger.
“During the way here, I saw many Taliban and I am very afraid of them,” the woman told Yeung. Her hands were shaking throughout the interview.
Her communication with the State Department has stopped. The last e-mail she got was in January, just days before Trump returned to the White House.
When asked about the Trump administration’s actions, the woman said: “We are feeling bad because we trusted it. And we worked with them for 20 years. And they promised us too. We must be moved from here to America.”
