ICE planning to deport Afghans through Pakistan, official says
The plan has triggered alarm among advocates for Afghans, who warn that the proposal could lead to the deportation of Afghans who could be persecuted by the Taliban.
The Trump administration is considering deporting up to 200 Afghan nationals through Pakistan, according to a U.S. official. The Afghans in question are currently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and have been accused of violating U.S. immigration laws. However, the plan has raised concerns among Afghan advocates who argue that it could lead to the deportation of individuals who may face persecution under the Taliban due to their connections to the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan.
The U.S. has not had official diplomatic relations with the Taliban since 2021, which complicates the deportation process. A U.S. immigration enforcement official stated in a sworn court declaration that a planned deportation flight, originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, would ultimately land in Pakistan before the deportees would be transported to Afghanistan via land.
The final destination of the deportees, however, remains unclear. The Afghan community has expressed alarm over the proposed plan, with some Afghan advocates warning that it could lead to the deportation of individuals who may face persecution by the Taliban. The Pakistani government has not yet commented on the matter, raising questions about whether it has agreed to receive the deportees and how their transportation to Afghanistan will be handled.
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