FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12 pm ET, November 26, 2025 | Washington, DC

ANAR is deeply saddened by the violent events that occurred in Washington, DC, on the afternoon of Nov 26. The following statement was issued prior to these events in response to news from the administration reported on Monday, November 25.

ANAR CONDEMNS POTENTIAL RE-SCREENING OF VETTED REFUGEES

ANAR is deeply concerned by reports that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will re-interview and pause green card processing for hundreds of thousands of already vetted refugees who already form part of our communities in the United States.

Refugees wait years for the opportunity to resettle in the U.S., often after being left with no choice but to flee their homes because of conditions caused in part by U.S. foreign policy. This memorandum undermines the refugee program by wasting resources on re-screening those who have already gone through the highest level of vetting to prove their needs for protection. Refugee vetting already consists of multilayered background checks, evidence collection, and interviews. It is a process that takes months, and often years, to complete. If enacted, this policy will have devastating consequences for the long-term stability and wellbeing of our communities.

The Afghan refugees we serve were promised lasting protection, and this directive threatens to break that promise. This is yet another outrageous effort by this administration to restrict refugee status to a small group of white, politically aligned individuals. It follows just weeks after the historically low presidential determination concerning refugee admissions for Fiscal Year 2026. Americans must speak out to remind our officials that refugees are a part of our communities and here to stay.

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Project ANAR is an Afghan community immigration justice organization formed and led by Afghan American women immigration lawyers and organizers, that focuses on legal services, community education, and advocacy and engagement. Project ANAR’s objectives include obtaining permanent status for Afghans in the U.S., advocating for the expansion of pathways for those seeking refuge, and seeking an end to the systems that displace our communities. Project ANAR works primarily in the Bay Area, California and in Northern Virginia, and also engages in national level advocacy and legal services work.