In brief
Washington announced plans to deport more than 150 Afghan immigrants to Afghanistan via Pakistan, citing security concerns. The move has drawn criticism from veterans' groups and human‑rights advocates who warn it violates due process and endangers families who served with U.S. troops. Congress faces pressure to grant temporary protected status to shield Afghans currently residing in the United States.
The Trump administration revealed on Friday a plan to deport over 150 Afghan immigrants to Afghanistan via Pakistan, a decision that will affect families of U.S. soldiers and raise questions about due process and public safety, Reuters reported. The policy is part of the administration’s broader immigration crackdown, which it justifies as a measure to improve domestic security.
“Some facing deportation are ‘brothers and sons of men who served alongside U.S. forces, families the Taliban already has every reason to target,’” said Shawn VanDiver, head of AfghanEvac, a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups. AfghanEvac is calling for Congress to grant temporary protected status to Afghan refugees in the United States to protect them from removal, VanDiver said.
“Some facing deportation are ‘brothers and sons of men who served alongside U.S. forces, families the Taliban already has every reason to target.’”
The New York Times reported that more than 150 Afghan immigrants are expected to be deported and that the first flight could take place as early as Monday. Law enforcement officials have detained dozens of Afghan immigrants in Louisiana, and the administration said it will depart them via Pakistan because Washington lacks a formal diplomatic relationship with the Taliban‑run government in Kabul.
Human‑rights advocates say the deportation drive violates due process, free speech and the rights of minorities, who have expressed concerns about racial profiling. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security refused to confirm future removal operations, citing operational security. Critics argue that allowing the Taliban to target families who aided U.S. forces could have dire consequences for those individuals and their families.
Pakistan has expelled over 2 million Afghan nationals to Afghanistan since 2023, creating a precedent for the use of Pakistani airspace for deportations. The plan is one of the largest single expulsions of Afghans from the United States in recent history. The policy’s legal ramifications and the impact on Afghan communities in the U.S. are set to intensify as the administration moves forward.
As Washington moves to execute the deportation plan, the debate over the treatment of Afghan refugees and the role of congressional oversight continues to grow. Advocates keep urging legislators to act promptly to provide legal protections and prevent families from returning to a regime that they fear will persecute them for their service.
