Trump ‘whiplash’ on deportations putting Afghans in turmoil: ‘People already survived a war’
Members of Congress and advocates warn that returning people to their home countries could be a death sentence Dozens of Afghans who are currently in the US but fear being deported back to Afghanistan along with a larger group and possibly killed by the Taliban are experiencing “fragile relief” this weekend after it appeared that the Trump administration had put on hold plans to remove them…
Members of Congress and advocates are expressing deep concern over the potential deportations of Afghans currently residing in the United States. These individuals are facing a grave threat to their safety as they fear being sent back to Afghanistan, where the Taliban could potentially harm them. This looming threat has left many of them in a state of "fragile relief" after a temporary court order temporarily blocked their deportation earlier this month.
The original plan was to transport more than 150 Afghans, including those who had assisted US troops during the war on terror, to Pakistan. However, after the temporary court order expired last weekend, immigration advocates feared that these individuals might be forced to leave the US during the week of 16 November. The delay came after a rescheduled removal date for at least one Afghan man was suddenly canceled.
Some of the detained Afghans have been moved from staging facilities to long-term detention facilities, suggesting they will not be deported in the coming days. However, confusion persists among immigration lawyers and advocates due to the lack of clear communication from the administration.
Shawn VanDiver, founder of the US non-profit coalition #AfghanEvac, has described the situation as a "whiplash" inflicted on people who have already survived a war. He called the Trump administration's actions cruel and manipulative, intending to scare others.
Immigration advocates are urging continued pressure to delay or cancel the deportation flights and to pass a bipartisan bill that would grant temporary protected status to Afghans already in the US through July 2029. This would prevent them from being sent back to the Taliban while their cases are being decided. The United States Supreme Court ruled in June that the Trump administration could strip temporary protected status from Afghans.
Supporters of these Afghans warn about the potential dangers they would face if returned to Afghanistan, ranging from arbitrary detentions and executions to public flogging and retaliatory violence.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
