US Lawmakers Urge Trump Administration to Halt Mass Deportation of Afghans

A bipartisan group of 66 United States lawmakers has formally requested that the administration of President Donald Trump halt a planned mass deportation of Afghan nationals. The group includes individuals who previously assisted coalition forces before the 2021 military withdrawal. While many people search for information regarding Donald Trump on Afghans, this specific policy action has sparked significant concern among human rights advocates and legislators alike.

In a letter sent on Monday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, the lawmakers highlighted reports that at least 150 Afghans are scheduled for removal. These individuals are reportedly being flown from detention facilities in Louisiana to Pakistan. Department of Homeland Security filings indicate that the government eventually intends to return these individuals to their home country, despite the US lacking diplomatic relations with the Taliban-led government.

The US government faces pressure to stop the deportation of 150 Afghans fearing for their lives.

Concerns over safety and policy

The lawmakers warned that returning these individuals to Afghanistan could be a death sentence, as many are likely to be targeted due to their past support for the US government or their criticism of the Taliban. Shawn VanDiver, founder of the AfghanEvac advocacy group, noted that many of those slated for removal lacked legal representation to contest their cases in court. He highlighted the case of a former Afghan police officer who fears for his life if returned to a country governed by the Taliban.

This move is part of a broader shift in immigration strategy under the Trump administration, which has secured agreements with at least 35 countries to accept third-country nationals. According to data from Refugees International and Human Rights First, the administration has already forcibly sent at least 25,000 people to third countries. Critics argue that this practice undermines long-standing humanitarian norms, as deportees are often sent to regions with poor human rights records or extreme danger.

Since taking office, President Trump has moved to end resettlement programs established under his predecessor. While over 120,000 Afghans were evacuated in 2021, many remain in legal limbo, struggling to navigate a backlogged immigration system. The administration has also implemented stricter visa policies and halted the processing of certain Afghan applications following security incidents, further complicating the status of those who assisted American forces.

Why it matters

This development represents a significant shift in US policy toward those who aided coalition efforts in Afghanistan. It directly impacts the safety of 150 individuals currently held in detention, many of whom face potential persecution or death if returned to Taliban-controlled territory.

For South Asia, the situation is particularly pressing as Pakistan has already deported millions of Afghans amid deteriorating relations with the Taliban. The US policy of using third countries for deportations places additional strain on regional stability and complicates the humanitarian outlook for those displaced by the 2021 withdrawal.