Shakoofa Khalili and her family fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, hoping for resettlement in the USA. Along with thousands of others, they have been stranded in Pakistan, awaiting visas that may never come. Khalili once worked for a US-funded child protection programme, but now she and her family fear deportation to Afghanistan. Donald Trump’s suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Programme (USRAP) has locked out many Afghans, particularly women, who now have no legal protection. Pakistan’s government is implementing a repatriation plan which could affect thousands: advocacy groups warn that returnees face arrest, torture, or execution. For Khalili, the fear is personal - her young daughter was severely traumatised when she witnessed her father almost being arrested by police. With no clear path to safety, thousands of Afghans remain in hiding, praying for intervention before time runs out.