Trump Administration Plans to Deport 150 Afghan Refugees
The Trump administration is set to deport over 150 Afghan refugees to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan via Pakistan, with flights potentially starting Monday.
More than 150 Afghan refugees face deportation to Afghanistan.
The U.S. has no diplomatic ties with the Taliban, complicating the process.
Calls for Congress to grant temporary protected status to affected Afghans.
The Trump administration is preparing to deport over 150 Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan, which is currently under Taliban control. The first deportation flight is expected to take off as soon as Monday, with plans to route these individuals through Pakistan due to the lack of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Taliban government.
This situation arises as many of those facing deportation fled Afghanistan after the Taliban regained power in 2021. Reports indicate that these individuals include family members of those who collaborated with U.S. forces during the two-decade conflict. Advocacy groups have raised alarms about the potential risks these deportees may face upon their return, including persecution and retaliation from the Taliban.
Shawn VanDiver, president of the advocacy group AfghanEvac, highlighted that at least 80 Afghans had recently been moved to Louisiana from various ICE detention facilities across the U.S., with 19 being transferred without legal representation. An anonymous senior official from the Trump administration conveyed to NBC News that the consequences for these deportees were not a significant concern for the White House, stating that the administration believes these individuals lack status in the U.S.
The proposed deportations come amid a broader crackdown on immigration by President Trump, who has suspended refugee admissions, including those for Afghans seeking safety after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. This policy represents a shift from earlier efforts aimed at providing refuge to Afghans escaping Taliban rule and political instability.
Legal experts and human rights advocates are concerned that the administration's approach, which includes deportations to third countries, may violate international protections for asylum seekers. The legality of these deportation policies is expected to be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in December. Meanwhile, there are calls for Congress to pass legislation that would grant eligible Afghans temporary protected status, shielding them from deportation while conditions in Afghanistan remain perilous.
