News & Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT
Henrike Dessaules | media@refugeerights.org
AFGHAN ALLIES SUE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR BANNING FAMILY MEMBERS FROM THE UNITED STATES
State Department Unlawfully Applying Travel Ban to the Families of Afghan Asylees
(Alexandria, VA) – Today, seven Afghan allies and their families filed a federal lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia against various government agencies and officials, challenging the Department of State’s (DOS) unlawful policy of denying entry to the United States to the family members of asylees from 19 countries – including Afghanistan – listed in President Trump’s Proclamation 10949, commonly known as the “travel ban.” The plaintiffs, represented by the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), Williams & Connolly LLP, and Keler & Kershow PLLC, are Afghan nationals who were granted asylum in the United States as a result of their support for the U.S. military and the U.S.-aligned democratic government of Afghanistan, as well as their spouses and children who are still in danger abroad.
The U.S. government recognizes the risk of violence and persecution the families of Afghan allies face from the Taliban, but continues to endanger them. While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has approved the families for derivative asylum, DOS is refusing to issue them travel documents even after interviewing them, claiming it is complying with President Trump’s travel ban proclamation. However, the June 4 Proclamation explicitly does not apply to asylees or people seeking asylum.
“Once again, the Trump administration is failing our Afghan allies,” said Pedro Sepulveda, Jr., U.S. Litigation Fellow at IRAP. “Our clients put their lives in danger for the United States and are now being told their loved ones are banned from this country, even though their petitions to have their families join them in the United States were granted by DHS. As IRAP has expressed before, the travel ban is discriminatory, unjust, and wrong. At the same time, it expressly does not apply to asylees or asylum-seekers. The government is misinterpreting the law and is putting families in harm’s way as a result.”
Additional Resources
- Read the complaint: HERE
- Read IRAP’s explainer about the abandonment of Afghan allies: HERE
- Read IRAP’s explainer of the travel ban: HERE
- Learn more about IRAP’s work supporting Afghan allies: HERE
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. Everyone should have a safe place to live and a safe way to get there.
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