Story perspectives

Trump Ends Special Immigrant Visa Travel-Ban Exception

8/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump’s administration removed the travel-ban exception for Special Immigrant Visa holders.
AfghanEvac founder Shawn VanDiver said nearly 180,000 approved visa applicants still await interviews.
About 3,000 relatives of active-duty U.S. service members remain stranded, including 150 in Qatar’s Camp As Sayliyah.
The administration ended Temporary Protected Status for Afghans, leaving roughly 11,000 unable to work and at risk of detention.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump’s administration removed the travel-ban exception for Special Immigrant Visa holders.
AfghanEvac founder Shawn VanDiver said nearly 180,000 approved visa applicants still await interviews.
About 3,000 relatives of active-duty U.S. service members remain stranded, including 150 in Qatar’s Camp As Sayliyah.
The administration ended Temporary Protected Status for Afghans, leaving roughly 11,000 unable to work and at risk of detention.