Navigating Violence and Bureaucratic Limbo: Coping Mechanisms of Afghan Migrants Trapped in Administrative Barriers

I served as a battlefield interpreter with the U.S. military in Afghanistan. When the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, I had to leave the country. I applied for a U.S. immigration visa in August 2021, and my application is still pending. I stood by them in their time of need, but their bureaucratic system prevented them from supporting me during the most difficult times, and yet, it added to my challenges by keeping me in a state of suspense and uncertainty for nearly three years. This is true for thousands of Afghans, particularly vulnerable groups such as ethnic and religious minorities and unaccompanied women and minors, who are currently awaiting their immigration processes and dealing with uncertainty for years. Even some of the Afghans who were evacuated to the U.S. and elsewhere in and after August 2021 have been kept in a state of uncertainty and suspense due to prolonged administrative processes, with some facing potential deportation. Research identifies the different impacts that bureaucratic barriers have on migrants, as well as some overall coping mechanisms. However, very little research employs an intersectional lens that explains how migrants who are forcibly displaced due to intersecting factors like ethnicity, gender, persecution, and violent conflict, experience and resist prolonged administrative barriers, specifically while in transit. Through qualitative interviews, this research seeks to investigate how Afghan forced migrants, particularly women and ethnic minorities, experience and cope with bureaucratic challenges while navigating prolonged administrative limbo in transit countries, such as Pakistan and Iran. The study’s findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the specific mechanisms adopted by vulnerable migrant groups who may experience compounded disadvantages due to intersecting factors like gender, ethnicity, and legal status.