Controversial Congo Resettlement Plan for Stranded Afghans

The Trump administration is negotiating with the Democratic Republic of Congo to resettle 1,100 stranded Afghans awaiting U.S. visas, according to a leading advocacy group. The stalled U.S. immigrant visa process after the Afghan withdrawal has left these individuals in uncertainty, over four years since the U.S. exit from Kabul.

Shawn VanDiver, a veteran advocate, disclosed U.S. plans to relocate the Afghans to Congo, criticizing their insecurity due to the country's instability. These Afghans, previously housed in a former U.S. base in Qatar, face an administrative deadlock intensified by recent U.S. policy decisions.

A federal ruling deemed the Afghan SIV processing ban illegal, yet progress remains slow. While plans for Congo unfold, doubts surface about the Afghans' acceptance of resettlement in a conflict-ridden region. Previous discussions about resettling them in Botswana fell through due to additional U.S. requirements.