Afghan family

The Afghans were granted citizenship under Vanuatu's Development Support Program.

The family of five are now seeking assistance from Vanuatu's Embassy in Brussels to be repatriated.

The director of Vanuatu's Department of Foreign Affairs, Yvon Basil, has confirmed the Afghans' request.

But Mr Basil said, because Vanuatu has no connection with Afghanistan, the family's request had come through other foreign missions including New Zealand and Australia.

A couple and their three young children were taken into custody shortly after their arrival at Los Angeles International Airport last week.

They had Special Immigrant Visas, granted for work done for the US military that put their lives at risk.

Afghanistan was not among the countries listed on a now blocked US travel ban.

The original order prohibited the entry of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, but has since been halted by US federal courts. The Trump administration is preparing a new executive order.