News & Resources
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Spencer Tilger | media@refugeerights.org
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AFGHAN ALLIES CAN SUE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR BANNING FAMILY MEMBERS FROM THE UNITED STATES
Lawsuit Challenging State Department’s Unlawful Application of Travel Ban to Afghan Asylees Seeking Family Reunification Will Move Forward
(Alexandria, VA) – Last night, a federal judge in the Eastern District of Virginia rejected the U.S. government’s request to throw out a lawsuit filed by Afghan asylees and their families seeking to reunite safely in the United States. A.A. v. State challenges the Department of State’s policy of applying President Trump’s Proclamation 10949, commonly known as the “travel ban” to asylee Follow-To-Join applications.
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, as well as their spouses and children who are still in danger abroad. The U.S. government has argued that it can deny the entry of family members of asylees from Afghanistan and other countries subjected to the travel ban, even though the text of the ban exempts asylees from inclusion.
“Not only is the Trump administration’s travel ban discriminatory, it expressly does not apply to asylum-seekers,” said Lupe Aguirre, Deputy Director of U.S. Litigation at IRAP. “The Court acknowledged the risk of extreme danger, including torture, faced by our clients abroad, and the harm to our clients stateside from the government’s denial of family reunification. We look forward to continuing to fight to rescind the State Department’s illegal policy and to ensure our clients are able to seek asylum alongside their family members in the United States. This is exactly what our asylum laws are meant to do.”
Additional Resources
- Read the order: HERE
- Read the press release announcing the lawsuit: HERE
- Learn more about the case: HERE
- Read IRAP’s explainer about the abandonment of Afghan allies: HERE
- Read IRAP’s explainer of the travel ban: 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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