US plans deportation of Afghan refugees to Pakistan

President Donald Trump's administration intends to deport certain Afghan immigrants back to Afghanistan, according to a US official and a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups. Many of those facing removal fled Afghanistan following the 2021 Taliban takeover and the US withdrawal, noted Shawn VanDiver, leader of AfghanEvac. Some of those targeted for deportation include "brothers and sons of men who served alongside US forces, families the Taliban already has every reason to target," VanDiver added.

More than 150 Afghan immigrants are anticipated to be deported, as reported by the New York Times, constituting one of the largest single expulsions of Afghans. The administration has detained several Afghan immigrants in Louisiana and plans to deport them, with the initial flight scheduled as soon as Monday. The US official disclosed that deportations would take place through Pakistan. Washington is unable to directly facilitate deportations to Afghanistan, as it lacks diplomatic relations with the Taliban.

The administration's immigration crackdown and deportation drive aim to enhance domestic security, claimed Trump. However, rights advocates argue that the crackdown infringes upon due process and free speech, creating an unsafe environment for minorities, who have expressed concerns about racial profiling. The Department of Homeland Security declined to confirm future removal operations, citing operational security.

VanDiver called upon Congress to pass legislation granting Afghans in the US temporary protected status to safeguard them from deportation. Pakistan has already expelled over 2 million Afghan nationals to Afghanistan since 2023.