Trump says he will help Afghans stuck in the UAE since 2021 Taliban takeover

Despite past hardline immigration stances, the US president pledges support for Afghans held in limbo

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A US Air Force aircraft takes off from Kabul’s international airport in August 2021 during the US evacuation from Afghanistan. File photo: AFP

Published: 2:11am, 21 Jul 2025Updated: 11:09am, 21 Jul 2025

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would help Afghans detained in the United Arab Emirates for years after fleeing their country when the United States pulled out and the Taliban took power.

Trump, a Republican who promised a far-reaching immigration crackdown, suspended refugee resettlement after he took office in January. In April, the Trump administration terminated temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans in the US.

“I will try to save them, starting right now,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social that linked to an article on the Afghans held in limbo there.

Trump cited website Just the News as saying that UAE officials were preparing to hand over some Afghan refugees to the Taliban. Reuters has not confirmed the report.

Scenes at Kabul’s international airport in August 2021 as Afghans try to flee the country. File photo: EPA-EFE

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The UAE, a close security partner of the United States, agreed in 2021 to temporarily house several thousand Afghans evacuated from Kabul as the Taliban ousted the US-backed government during the final stages of the US-led withdrawal.

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