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.

Almost 1,660 Afghans who have received permission from the US government to resettle in the United States, including family members of active US military personnel, have had their flights cancelled following President Donald Trump's order to suspend US refugee programmes,

The president has suspended U.S. refugee programs, mirroring his policy towards Middle Eastern immigrants from his first term.