The decision leaves refugees who have completed a lengthy process stranded abroad and facing extended separation from loved ones already in the U.S.

Refugees who were slated to travel to the United States after a years-long and often cumbersome process have had their flights canceled, according to a State Department memo to resettlement partners obtained by CNN.

U.S. health agencies including the CDC this week canceled meetings with external groups, paused some public health publications and told employees to freeze travel after directives from the Department of Health and Human Services,

Refugees who had been approved to come to the United States before America’s refugee resettlement program is suspended next week have had their travel plans canceled by the Trump administration.

The Trump administration has canceled travel plans for refugees who have already been cleared to come into the United States. The Associated Press reported that the refugees had been approved to come here before a deadline next week suspending America’s refugee resettlement program.

The surprise halt of travel this week scuttled the hopes of last-minute arrivals as Donald Trump's refugee shutdown took hold early.

The fate of tens of thousands of Afghans awaiting resettlement in the U.S. hangs in the balance after Trump suspended the refugee admissions program.