LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: This ban potentially# affects thousands of people, including a## young girl from Afghanistan.# And we're calling her Saira,## blurring her face and altering her voice# to protect her identity for her safety.

She spoke to producer Zeba Warsi from# Peshawar in neighboring Pakistan,## where she traveled from -- for her U.S. visa# appointment.

And now she doesn't know where to go.

SAIRA, Student From Afghanistan:# As an Afghan student, we cannot## study in our country.

I waited for# one year to complete this process.## The applying for a university in# the United States is not easy.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Despite her best# efforts, Saira feels abandoned again.

SAIRA: Although I have successfully obtained# a student visa for this fall semester,## but this is a new policy is giving me anxiety.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Before the Taliban took over# in 2021, she was a first year journalism student## at Kabul University with big dreams.

But the# Taliban crushed them.

For the last four years,## they have banned women and girls from# school and from most of public life.

But Saira didn't give up.

She fought against the# Taliban by protesting in Kabul.

And, last year,## she applied to 11 colleges in the U.S.# and got accepted to five.

This fall,## she was all set to attend a college in# Pennsylvania to study political science.

SAIRA: I really want to study political science# because I want to work on Afghanistan politics## area, especially for women's rights in# Afghanistan.

My only goal is to use this## opportunity in the United States, use the# United States -- United States education## only for -- to serve for my country, serve# for women like me who are suffering right now,## who are banned for education, who# cannot have their basic rights.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Saira is in neighboring# Pakistan, where she traveled with her family## for her U.S. student visa appointment.# But with the many uncertainties around## travel restrictions on Afghan nationals# like her, she's worried for her future.

SAIRA: What I will do, how I can return back# to home, where the Taliban, if they know that## I came to Peshawar, Pakistan, for use visa for# my -- continuing my education to use, they would## probably tell me or do something to me.

Currently,# my only hope is in United States.

And I hope they## hear our voices and know our concern that we# are relying on your country, on your education.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Amna, the White# House told "News Hour" that a student## like Saira would be able to enter# the United States because she was## already issued her visa before the president# issued this proclamation just last night.

But, still, students like Saira are# very anxious right now because of## the president's larger crackdown on# foreign national students like her.

AMNA NAWAZ: All right, Laura# Barron-Lopez reporting.

As usual, wonderful reporting tonight.

Thank you.

LAURA BARRON-LOPEZ: Thank you.