WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has announced plans to deport certain Afghan immigrants back to Afghanistan, as reported by a US official and various veteran and advocacy groups on Friday.
Many of these individuals left Afghanistan following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021 and the subsequent withdrawal of US troops, according to Shawn VanDiver, the leader of AfghanEvac. He highlighted that some of those facing deportation are the relatives of Afghans who worked with US forces, putting them at risk from the Taliban.
The New York Times reports that over 150 Afghan immigrants may be affected, making this one of the largest deportations of Afghans to date. Many of these individuals have already been detained in Louisiana, with plans for deportation starting as early as Monday.
A US official revealed that the deportations will occur through Pakistan, as the US currently lacks diplomatic relations with the Taliban and cannot facilitate direct returns to Afghanistan.
Trump has stated that his administration’s approach to immigration and deportation is focused on enhancing domestic security. However, rights groups argue that this approach infringes on due process and free speech, creating an environment of fear for minority communities, many of whom express concerns about racial profiling.
The Department of Homeland Security has refrained from confirming specific future removal operations, citing the need for operational security. In response, VanDiver has called on Congress to create legislation that would provide temporary protected status for Afghan individuals already in the US to shield them from deportation.
Pakistan has reportedly sent back over 2 million Afghan nationals to Afghanistan since the beginning of 2023.
