A U.S. official and a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups reported on Friday that President Donald Trump's administration plans to deport some Afghan migrants to Afghanistan.
- Shaun Vandiver, president of Afghan Evac, said many of those facing deportation fled Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in 2021 and U.S. forces withdrew.
- Vandiver added that some of those facing deportation are "brothers and sons of men who served alongside U.S. forces, and these families are already targeted by the Taliban."
- The New York Times reported that more than 150 Afghan migrants are expected to be deported in one of the largest single deportation operations targeting Afghans.
- The newspaper reported that the administration detained dozens of Afghan migrants in Louisiana and plans to deport them, with the first flight expected to depart soon, possibly on Monday.
- A U.S. official said the deportations would be carried out via Pakistan, as Washington cannot arrange direct deportations to Afghanistan due to the lack of diplomatic relations with the Taliban.
- Trump maintains that his tough stance on immigration and deportations aims to improve national security.
- Human rights advocates argue that these strict measures violate due process and freedom of expression, creating an unsafe environment for minorities who have expressed concerns about racial profiling.
- The Department of Homeland Security said it would not confirm future deportations, citing operational security reasons.
- Vandiver urged Congress to pass legislation granting Afghan residents in the U.S. temporary protected status to shield them from deportation.
- Pakistan has expelled more than two million Afghan citizens to Afghanistan since 2023.
