Key Takeaways
• Over 1,100 Afghan refugees resettled in Chicago since 2021; local organizations led support efforts for newcomers.
• Trump’s January 2025 executive order suspended all refugee admissions; 1,600 Afghans’ immediate resettlement plans were canceled.
• Lawsuit Pacito v. Trump challenges the refugee program suspension, striving to restore resettlement opportunities for stranded Afghans.
The arrival of Afghan refugees in Chicago shows both the strength of humanitarian efforts and the effect of changing policies in the United States. After the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the takeover by the Taliban in Afghanistan during the summer of 2021, the world watched as thousands of Afghan families searched for safety. More than 80,000 Afghan refugees came to the United States, and the Chicago area became a new home for over 1,100 of these newcomers. Many local organizations, schools, and people sprang into action to help families start over and find hope after being forced to leave their homes.
The Arrival of Afghan Refugees in Chicago
In the days following the Taliban’s return to power, news stories from Chicago shared how local agencies were preparing for the new arrivals. People worked long hours to make sure families could get settled quickly, with some advocates saying they were ready to welcome Afghan refugees within weeks of the evacuation. The Biden administration then moved to help about 200,000 Afghan evacuees come to the United States, including military interpreters, human rights activists, leaders, and people with strong ties to America.
When Afghan refugees arrived in the Chicago area, many brought nothing except the clothes they wore and painful memories of leaving people and places behind. The large number of refugees stretched local resources, but it also showed the deep kindness of Chicago’s community. Refugee resettlement organizations, religious groups, universities, and volunteers all looked for ways to provide support.
Organizations Leading the Way
Many groups led the response and support for Afghan refugees in Chicago. These organizations not only offered housing but also key services that helped families adjust and become independent.
RefugeeOne became a central figure in this effort. Each year, RefugeeOne serves more than 2,500 people, including refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. In the case of Afghan refugees, the agency arranged for safe and stable housing, taught English, coached people for jobs, provided mental health support, and offered youth services to children and teens starting over in new schools. Their mission has always been to make sure refugees can stand on their own and be part of their new communities.
Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago (ECAC), founded in 1984, also played a large role in helping Afghan arrivals. ECAC’s team helped new families get legal documents, connect to food stamps and Medicaid, find jobs, and enroll children in school. This was important, especially for those who did not speak English or had skills that were hard to transfer to the United States. ECAC and its volunteers provided donated groceries, furniture, and other home goods for refugees who came with little or nothing. Placing families in safe, long-term housing was a top priority for the agency.
Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program has supported newcomers for nearly 50 years and was well-prepared for the wave of Afghan refugees. This group provided case management—meaning each family received help for basic needs, employment, and schooling for their children. Many Afghan refugees had never attended formal school or knew only a little English, so the agency’s services were irreplaceable for their transition to independence.
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) formed a special task force led by Suzanne Akhras Sahloul just for Afghan refugees. This team worked to make sure families got religious support, legal help, and access to food and housing. They also provided training for caseworkers so they understood Afghan culture and needs, made translation services available, and helped offer Afghan-style meals and prayer for families. CIOGC even helped find jobs, safe homes, and medical care for the new arrivals.
Northeastern Illinois University decided to help Afghan youth through its Afghan Transition Program (ATP). For the 2022 academic year, ATP offered a full scholarship, which included both tuition and housing, to 15 refugees. This gave Afghan students who were otherwise facing an uncertain future a chance to continue their studies and start a new chapter. The university worked closely with RefugeeOne, ECAC, Catholic Charities, World Relief of Chicagoland, and Heartland Alliances to support these young people and help them succeed.
Across the Chicago area, these organizations were not alone in the effort. Many religious groups, local businesses, and volunteers gave donations and their time to help Afghan families. Some offered English classes, others provided professional services, and still more simply offered a listening ear and friendship. The city came together in a way that made a real difference for those who had lost almost everything.
New Policy Challenges for Afghan Refugees
Just as Afghan refugees were starting to get their footing in Chicago, the rules around refugee resettlement changed suddenly. On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed a new executive order called “Realigning the United States Refugee Program.” This order suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) starting on January 27, 2025. Under the new policy, all refugee arrivals were put on hold for at least three months. The order also allowed this pause to be extended depending on reviews about “national interests.”
This move had quick and painful effects, especially for Afghan refugees:
- About 1,600 Afghans who had been cleared to come to the United States suddenly could not enter and had their resettlement plans canceled.
- Many had flights already booked and had to change their plans without warning.
- Tens of thousands more who had already passed background checks or were still waiting in countries like Pakistan now faced an uncertain future. In some places, like Pakistan, Afghan refugees face growing problems, including threats of being sent back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Many groups helping refugees criticized the suspension. They pointed out that Afghans who worked with the U.S. military or government are at real risk if sent back to Afghanistan. One Afghan evacuee stuck in Pakistan summed up this fear when he told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, “Our lives are in danger. We won’t be able to go to Afghanistan either because I worked against the Taliban.”
Programs and Legal Challenges
One program called the Welcome Corps, which was a private sponsorship part of USRAP, was also ended in February 2025. This meant that people who were sponsoring Afghan refugees could no longer bring these new arrivals to the country. The executive order does let officials make exceptions on a case-by-case basis, but every exception requires approval by both the U.S. Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security. Many experts worry that few, if any, Afghan families will be helped this way.
A lawsuit, Pacito v. Trump, was filed to protest the White House’s decision. The case challenges both the suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and the sudden stop in federal funds for refugee resettlement groups. While the lawsuit works its way through the courts, the result is that many refugees remain stranded and afraid for their lives. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the legal challenge represents a new chapter in the fight for refugee rights in the United States.
It is important to note that Afghan refugees who already arrived in Chicago or other U.S. cities through USRAP or Welcome Corps still keep their legal status. These families and individuals can continue to live and work in the United States, go to school, and use the support services in place when they arrived.
The Ongoing Struggle in Chicago
For Afghan refugees who made it to Chicago before the new order, life is still full of challenges, but there is also hope. Many are trying hard to adapt to new schools, jobs, and communities. The support of local organizations plays a key role in helping these families thrive. English language classes are often the first step, giving people a way to communicate with neighbors, find work, and help their children with school.
Jobs are another central piece of refugee resettlement. Agencies like RefugeeOne and ECAC run job coaching programs and help people learn skills that employers want. Finding work can give a family dignity, income, and a sense of stability after so much upheaval.
Mental health care has also become more important as many Afghan refugees carry stress, sadness, and worry from what they experienced. Local agencies have set up support groups and mental health services to offer care and counseling to newcomers of all ages. Young people in particular benefit from after-school activities, tutoring, and help navigating the unfamiliar education system.
Children enrolling in Chicago schools have faced obstacles, especially if they had to stop going to school in Afghanistan. Refugee resettlement agencies help with enrollment, tutoring, and school supplies to make the transition smoother. The Afghan Transition Program at Northeastern Illinois University stands as an example of what is possible when schools welcome newcomers as valued members of the community.
Religious and cultural communities have also been central in helping Afghan refugees. The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has provided prayer services, meals familiar to Afghan culture, translation services, and social gatherings to help people feel at home.
Challenges for Those Left Behind
For the thousands of Afghan refugees who were not able to leave for Chicago and other U.S. cities, the situation grows more serious every day. Many are stuck in Pakistan or other countries, facing the threat of deportation, poor living conditions, and hostility from local authorities. Some are separated from family members, not knowing when, or if, they will ever be reunited.
Policy experts say that the recent suspension has made resettlement work harder for everyone. Organizations are trying to help families keep hope alive while waiting for news—sometimes for months or years. Volunteers and staff continue to work on legal cases, prepare new homes in case rules change, and provide basic help like food and shelter to refugees who are still in limbo.
For all those involved, the story of Afghan refugees in Chicago is one of both uncertainty and resilience. Chicago remains committed to the refugee resettlement cause, but the recent policy suspension has made clear just how fragile this support can be.
What Lies Ahead
Many are now watching closely to see what will happen with the U.S. refugee resettlement program. Some are hopeful that legal actions like Pacito v. Trump may lead to a change in policy, letting stranded refugees come to safety. Families, local leaders, and community groups continue to press the government to keep its promises to Afghan allies.
At the same time, refugee resettlement organizations stress the need for continued donations, volunteer support, and community engagement. These groups encourage people to write to their elected officials and ask them to stand with Afghan refugees and other displaced people.
If you want to learn more about supporting refugees or the legal rules for arriving in the United States, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides detailed information about refugee resettlement and how the process works.
In closing, the journey for Afghan refugees in Chicago remains unfinished. The city has shown what it means to welcome the stranger and support people in their greatest time of need. But as policies change and world events shift, the need for vigilance and kindness continues. For the families who made it—and those still waiting—refugee resettlement is more than a policy; it’s a lifeline to a new beginning. The quiet work happening across Chicago each day is a sign of hope, not just for Afghan refugees but for all who dream of safety and a better future.
Learn Today
Refugee Resettlement → A government-supported process to help refugees find new homes, security, and support after fleeing danger in their home country.
USRAP → The United States Refugee Admissions Program, responsible for approving and coordinating refugee entries and support services in the U.S.
Executive Order → A directive issued by the U.S. President that manages operations of the federal government and can significantly alter immigration policy.
Welcome Corps → A private sponsorship program under USRAP that allowed U.S. citizens to directly sponsor and support incoming refugees.
Pacito v. Trump → A legal case challenging the 2025 suspension of the refugee admissions program and halt to federal resettlement funding.
This Article in a Nutshell
Chicago became a vital refuge for Afghan families after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Local groups provided housing, jobs, and support, easing integration. However, a 2025 executive order halted further arrivals, leaving many Afghans stranded abroad. Legal challenges continue, while those in Chicago strive to rebuild their lives.
— By VisaVerge.com
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