Sean VanDiver, president of the advocacy group AfghanEvac, has warned that the removal of exemptions for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) and immediate relatives of U.S. citizens from the U.S. travel ban poses a serious threat to families and refugees.
In a statement released Tuesday night, December 16, VanDiver said the new policy would separate families and leave refugees stranded.
He added that Afghan SIV holders are among the most thoroughly vetted individuals within the U.S. immigration system, and that immediate relatives of U.S. citizens have long been given priority for family reunification.
According to VanDiver, eliminating these protections is not a technical adjustment but a deliberate escalation with immediate humanitarian consequences.
He emphasized that expanding the list of affected countries punishes civilians for circumstances beyond their control, and that exploiting tragedy as a political tool separates families and puts lives at risk.
VanDiver described the move as “shameful,” warning that it undermines U.S. credibility and trust in the rule of law, and called for a serious review and the immediate reversal of the policy.
