U.S. Plans to deport Afghans through Pakistan, raising safety concerns

Many Afghans fled persecution and sought refuge in the U.S. after assisting American military and aid organizations, fearing for their lives. Shawn VanDiver, a U.S. Navy veteran and president of #AfghanEvac, described the planned deportations as “absolutely unconscionable.”

The deportations are slated to begin as early as Monday, with flights originating from Louisiana, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities are located. The plan initially surfaced in a report by Bloomberg and was subsequently detailed by The New York Times.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the planned operations, citing operational security. The Pakistani Embassy has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Court documents confirm that ICE officials have scheduled Afghan immigrants for charter flights to Pakistan with further transport to Afghanistan. In one case, a senior ICE official acknowledged an immigrant’s placement on a flight from Alexandria, Louisiana, to Pakistan. Another document revealed a separate Afghan immigrant is scheduled for deportation to Afghanistan next week.

This strategy of deporting immigrants through third countries has been employed by the Trump administration in situations where direct deportation to their home countries is not possible. Concerns have been raised that individuals with protective orders preventing deportation to Afghanistan may be included in these flights.

Human Rights First confirmed a scheduled flight from Louisiana to Pakistan on Tuesday carrying Afghan immigrants. Savitri Arvey, director of policy for Human Rights First, stated, “It is beyond egregious that this administration plans to carry out an unprecedented mass deportation flight of Afghans, forcibly sending them through Pakistan and into the hands of the Taliban.”

Democratic lawmakers have also voiced their disapproval. Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire called the plan “reprehensible,” while Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut emphasized the betrayal of promises made to Afghan allies.

In September, the Trump administration extended the operation of Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar, a facility housing over 1,000 Afghans who assisted the U.S. war effort or are relatives of U.S. service members. Upon entering his second term, Trump paused a resettlement program initiated by his predecessor, prioritizing white South Africans in refugee admissions.