The Trump administration intends to deport some Afghan immigrants to Afghanistan, according to a U.S. official and a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups. Many of those facing removal fled their homeland following the Taliban's takeover and the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.
Shawn VanDiver, head of #AfghanEvac, stated that some individuals targeted for deportation are "brothers and sons of men who served alongside US forces, families the Taliban already has every reason to target." The New York Times reported that over 150 Afghan immigrants are expected to be deported, potentially representing one of the largest single expulsions of Afghans. The administration has reportedly detained dozens of Afghan immigrants in Louisiana with plans for their deportation, with the first flight anticipated as early as Monday.
A U.S. official indicated that deportations would be conducted via Pakistan, as Washington does not have direct deportation arrangements with Afghanistan due to a lack of diplomatic ties with the Taliban. President Trump has previously articulated that his immigration enforcement and deportation initiatives are intended to enhance domestic security.
Rights advocates have expressed concerns, arguing that the crackdown infringes upon due process and free speech, and has fostered an environment of insecurity for minority groups who fear racial profiling. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on specific future removal operations, citing operational security protocols.
VanDiver has appealed to Congress to enact legislation that would provide Afghans in the U.S. with Temporary Protected Status, thereby shielding them from deportation. Concurrently, Pakistan has undertaken the expulsion of over 2 million Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan since 2023.
