Afghan SIV holders fear green card loss as revocation notices surge

Since the 2021 withdrawal, more than 160,000 Afghans were granted Special Immigrant Visas, allowing them to settle in the United States with their families. Now, federal agencies have begun sending letters that the basis for those visas is being revoked or denied, citing possible fraud in employer verification. The letters have increased sharply, leaving many green-card holders uncertain about their future status and fearing possible deportation.

Legal groups note that verification became difficult after contractors shut down, and a prior bribery scheme involving falsified recommendation letters has heightened scrutiny. Organizations such as the International Refugee Assistance Project and AfghanEvac warn that the revocations, combined with the suspension of other Afghan immigration pathways, create confusion and distress for allies who risk returning to a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. While no large-scale removal has occurred yet, the threat looms over families trying to build new lives.