Trump's Freeze Strands Afghan Families of Florida Troops in Qatar Attacks

More than 1,100 Afghan refugees stranded at a former military base in Qatar by the Trump administration's refugee processing freeze are now sheltering in place as Iranian ballistic missiles and drones strike the surrounding region.

The refugees — 700 of whom have been fully vetted and approved for entry into the United States — have been held at Camp As Sayliyah, near the Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha, for more than a year after President Trump suspended refugee processing in January 2024. More than half of the camp's residents are women and children. Missile debris struck the sleeping quarters of several young children last week; the children survived only because they were in a cafeteria at the time, according to camp residents.

For Treasure Coast families with ties to the Afghan-American community and to the veterans who served during the 21-year Afghanistan War, the situation carries direct weight. Among those trapped are approximately 150 immediate family members of active-duty U.S. military service members, according to Shawn VanDiver, founder of AfghanEvac, an advocacy organization working to bring U.S.-affiliated Afghans to America. Retired Marine Gunnery Sgt. Ehsan Jamshidi, who immigrated from Afghanistan as a child and later served in the Corps, has a brother — a former security guard at the U.S. Consulate in Herat — and his brother's children remaining at the camp.

The State Department confirmed it plans to close As Sayliyah by the end of March but has not disclosed where it intends to relocate the refugees. Camp residents say State Department staff have threatened to cut phone and internet access and to deport those who speak publicly about conditions — claims VanDiver called false. "They can't lie to these kids or tell them that they might have Qatari police show up and arrest them and then deport them back to Afghanistan," VanDiver said. "Their blood will be on their hands if they die."

Residents report that several families attempted to leave the camp for safety and were turned back by guards. Others say they were offered financial incentives to return to Afghanistan voluntarily. VanDiver said he is prepared to bring the matter before the United Nations if the administration does not act. The State Department had not responded to a request for comment on the threats or evacuation timeline as of publication.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.