CAMP AS-SAYLIYAH — The Trump administration is in discussions to potentially send up to 1,100 Afghans who assisted U.S. forces during the war in Afghanistan to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group, which includes interpreters, relatives of U.S. military members, and more than 400 children, has been held at Camp As-Sayliyah in Qatar for a year.

The United States evacuated the Afghans to Qatar for their protection because they supported U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan. Since the U.S. military withdrawal, Afghanistan has been under Taliban control. President Donald Trump stopped an initiative that allowed Afghans who assisted U.S. war efforts to apply to resettle in the United States.

A State Department spokesperson said officials are continuing to identify options for voluntary resettlement of the Afghans living at Camp As-Sayliyah and called moving the group to a third country a positive resolution for their safety and that of Americans. The spokesperson said the Afghan nationals at the camp do not currently have a viable pathway to the United States. The State Department said it is in routine direct communication with camp residents on resettlement initiatives but will not reveal details of the negotiations.

Shawn VanDiver, president of the non-profit AfghanEvac, said he heard about the resettlement discussions from people at and around the State Department. He said 900 of the 1,100 Afghans in Qatar were eligible for resettlement in the United States. For the remaining 200, the United States could approach countries other than the Democratic Republic of Congo about accepting them. Between 100 and 150 of the Afghans are family members of active duty service members, and more than 700 are women and children.

VanDiver said the Department of Homeland Security could allow in Afghans who have already qualified for the program. "The others should just come here. This is an easy solve: 'Hey, welcome to America.'" he said. "They can come here – there's no law that is preventing them."

VanDiver said returning to Afghanistan would likely result in death for these Afghans. It is possible that talks with the Democratic Republic of Congo will not result in resettlement, leaving the Afghans without a new resettlement plan.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing a displacement crisis following decades of conflict and instability. As of September 2025, 8.2 million people were displaced in the country, according to the UN Refugee Agency, which projects the figure to reach 9 million by the end of 2025.