Official Statement on Dec. 2025 Presidential Proclamation

Official Statement from No One Left Behind on the Presidential Proclamation on the expanded travel ban: December 16, 2025

Today’s Presidential Proclamation, as written, risks ending the exemption that has so far allowed America’s closest wartime allies, Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, to finish their journey to safety. The policy change would go into effect on January 1, 2026.

The proclamation would prevent relocation of Afghans who worked directly on behalf of the United States supporting our troops and diplomats, despite their successful completion of the Afghan SIV program’s robust interagency vetting.

No One Left Behind is deeply concerned by this change. We appreciate the President’s commitment to reinforcing U.S. national security. We also know that continued admissions of Afghan allies who have been issued SIVs for their service, after such extensive vetting, contribute to our nation’s security and strength. Though intended to allow for review of inconsistent vetting processes, this policy change inadvertently restricts those who are among the most rigorously vetted in our history: the wartime allies targeted by the terrorists this proclamation seeks to address.

No One Left Behind is hopeful that the Administration will continue to review and evolve these U.S. government policies. We encourage timely clarification of this exclusion of wartime allies to ensure the Afghan SIV program continues to vet and secure the U.S. allies targeted by the Taliban.