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The Trump administration halted the Special Immigrant Visa program for Afghans who worked with the U.S.

Posted by The Michael Berry Show, Checked

Polygraph verdictTrue
Sources
5 support2 context
Said
1 time·
Confidence
85%
The Michael Berry ShowAug 18, 2026
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25 claimsThe check →

Multiple tier1 and primary sources (Reuters, AP, Senate and House Democratic releases) report that the Trump administration halted or suspended the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program, with a State Department memo directing visa processing for Afghans to stop, including SIVs.

What was said

… It's now legal in Afghanistan for men to beat their wives, as long as they don't break any bones or leave any lasting injuries. Meanwhile, many Afghans who fought with the U.S., risked their lives for the U.S., remain stranded abroad after the Trump administration halted the Special Immigrant Visa program, and many of those who did make it to the United States, to this day, live in fear that their green cards will be revoked. …
The Michael Berry Show · · from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Supports. Reuters reports a State Department memo directing diplomats to cease processing visas for Afghan citizens, which effectively halts the special immigration program for Afghans who assisted the U.S., including SIVs.[1]

Supports. AP reports the administration halted visas for Afghans who assisted the U.S. war effort after a November 2025 shooting of National Guard members.[2]

Supports. Democratic senators' report says SIV issuances have effectively stopped and more than 155,000 applicants remain in the pipeline, many still in Afghanistan.[6]

Supports. House Democrats' release says the administration suspended the SIV program, and The Hill reports the administration is reviewing and revoking some SIVs and has shut off virtually every pathway for Afghans.[3][5]

Context. The sources are partisan in framing and the SIV program's status is described variously as halted, suspended, or paused; none of the sources report a formal statutory termination.[3][4][7]

Sources

7 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 2 primary, 1 tier 1, 2 not rated

  1. 1US State Department stops processing visas for Afghan alliesreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
  2. 2After shooting of National Guard members, US restricts ...apnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
  3. 3MATSUI AND COLLEAGUES CALL ON TRUMP ...matsui.house.gov · primary source · cited for: supports, context
  4. 4Ranking Member Shaheen and Senate Democratic Members Publish ...shaheen.senate.gov · primary source · cited for: context
  5. 55 years after withdrawal, a grave picture for Afghans inside and outside the USthehill.com · tier 1 · cited for: supports
  6. 6Senate Democrats accuse Trump of abandoning Afghan allies at riskms.now · not rated · cited for: supports
  7. 7America's Unpaid Debt to Afghan Allieschristianitytoday.com · not rated · cited for: context

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