Trump plans to shut Afghan evacuee camp in Qatar, U.S. lawmaker says
A U.S. lawmaker said President Donald Trump plans to close a Qatar-based transit camp for Afghan evacuees, raising concerns about stalled resettlement efforts.
U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks said President Donald Trump has informed Congress of plans to close Camp Al Sayliyah in Qatar, a temporary housing facility for evacuated Afghans, by the end of September.
Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Wednesday that the decision would complicate U.S. efforts to relocate and resettle Afghans who worked alongside American forces and institutions.
In a statement, he described the move as the latest “reckless step” by the Trump administration to eliminate remaining pathways for the safe transfer of Afghan allies to the United States.
Camp Al Sayliyah has served as a key transit hub since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, housing evacuees temporarily while they undergo security vetting and immigration processing.
Thousands of Afghans fled the country after the Taliban takeover, many facing serious threats because of their past work with U.S. and allied missions and now waiting in prolonged uncertainty.
Meeks said shutting the camp amounts to a betrayal of Afghan partners and a breach of America’s commitments, warning it would leave vulnerable families with few options.
Advocates for Afghan evacuees argue the United States has a moral responsibility to protect those who supported its mission, while critics maintain the evacuation process carries security concerns.
AfghanEvac, a group assisting evacuees, estimates about 800 Afghans remain at the camp, many stranded after admissions were halted by the Trump administration last year.
The planned closure has intensified calls from lawmakers and aid groups for Washington to reverse course, warning it could undermine U.S. credibility with future partners worldwide.
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