US Plans to Deport 150 Afghan Immigrants to Afghanistan Through Pakistan Amid Safety Concerns

The Trump administration is readying for deportation to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan of over 150 Afghan immigrants and refugees through Pakistan. The first deportation flight could take off as early as Monday.

The larger scheme apparently is to send deported individuals through Pakistan since the United States does not have a diplomatic relationship with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

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At least 80 Afghans were recently moved to Louisiana from 34 ICE detention centers in the country, says AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver, of San Diego, California.AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver, of San Diego, California, reports at least 80 Afghans were recently transferred to Louisiana from 34 ICE detention centers in the United States. Of those 19, it is said that 19 were transferred without legal counsel.

Many of those who had to leave Afghanistan due to deportation are said to have left due to the return of Taliban to power in 2021, such as those whose family members had cooperated with the US forces during the 20 years of war in Afghanistan.

Shawn cautioned that the re-entry of these people might pose "high risk of persecution and retaliation" to themselves and their families.

Among those facing deportation are brothers and sons of men who fought by America's side and have every reason to be targeted by the Taliban, VanDiver added.

The White House was not that concerned about the consequences for those deported from Afghanistan, said a senior Trump administration official, who spoke to NBC News on background. The official said the administration's stance is, ‘These guys have no standing in our country, so it doesn't really matter what happens to them.’

The proposed removals are part of a comprehensive overhaul of immigration by US president Donald Trump. His administration, since he took over as office, has put an end to refugee admissions, including that of Afghans who had come to the United States seeking protection after the withdrawal of the US-led forces from Afghanistan in 2021.

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It appears the policy is a reversal of the earlier attempt to offer safe haven refuge to Afghans who were escaping from the rule of the Taliban and political unrest.

The administration has also engaged in deportation agreements to third countries, deporting migrants to a third country other than their country of origin. Immigration lawyers and human rights groups say such mechanisms may allow such arrangements to "evade" international safeguards against deporting asylum-seekers to countries where they could be persecuted. Whether these deportation policies are legal is set to be before the US Supreme Court in December.

VanDiver has been asking Congress to act and enact legislation to extend temporary protected status (TPS) for eligible Afghans until the situation in Afghanistan returns to normal.

Pakistan may also have some issues if the deportation is to be done via its land. Since 2023, Islamabad has already deported over two million Afghan nationals.

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