US to deport 150 Afghan immigrants back to Afghanistan

The Trump administration's plan to deport over 150 Afghan immigrants back to Afghanistan has sparked concern among advocacy groups. According to US media reports, the move could put these individuals in grave danger, especially those with relatives who assisted US military during the Taliban's takeover in August 2021. The first deportation flight could leave as early as Monday, with Pakistan overseeing their relocation to Afghanistan.

The US cannot directly arrange the deportations, instead relying on Pakistan to enforce the expulsion. Pakistan's government has been actively pushing back Afghan citizens without visas since the Taliban's rise to power, a policy that has displaced millions since then. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense since the Taliban's takeover, with recent border clashes leading to a near-total closure of the border.

The US Department of Homeland Security has declined to comment on the matter. AfghanEvac, an organization aiding former Afghan allies, warns that the deportations could put the lives of these individuals and their families at risk, particularly those who have already been targeted by the Taliban. Despite the US offering a general amnesty to Afghans who cooperated with Western forces, reports from the UN suggest ongoing human rights abuses under the Taliban's rule, including extrajudicial killings and detentions.