In brief
A group of 66 lawmakers has written to the Trump administration asking it to halt a planned mass deportation of Afghans, citing the danger they face if returned to Taliban‑ruled Afghanistan. The letter, which names 150 Afghans scheduled for travel from Louisiana to Pakistan, warns that sending them back would be a “death sentence.” The administration has agreements with 35 third‑country partners and has reportedly scheduled an aircraft for the departure.
The Trump administration plans to send nearly 200 Afghan nationals to Pakistan for eventual return to Afghanistan, a move that has prompted 66 US lawmakers to appeal for an immediate halt. The appeal, addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, cites the danger that Afghan allies face if sent back into Taliban‑ruled territory.
According to the letter, at least 150 Afghans had been slated for deportation this week, with a flight from a detention centre in Louisiana to Pakistan scheduled for Tuesday. The lawmakers argue that the United States has a moral obligation to protect those who served alongside American forces in Afghanistan before the 2021 withdrawal.
“Sending dozens of people back to one of the most dangerous countries on earth, and where they are likely to be targeted for their or their family’s suspected support of the US government or criticism of the Taliban, is a death sentence,” the letter states. The letter also references advocacy group reports and court filings that indicate the administration had planned, in part, to redirect some deportees back to their home country.
Human Rights First has confirmed that a flight carrying Afghan detainees from Alexandria, Louisiana, to Pakistan is scheduled for Tuesday, reinforcing the assessment that the deportation will proceed as planned. The shift reflects the Trump administration’s broader policy of third‑country deportations, under which it has forced more than 25,000 people into countries that routinely violate international humanitarian norms.
These agreements cover at least 35 nations, many of which have been criticized for poor human‑rights records or are deemed too dangerous for asylum seekers. Critics argue that such practices undermine global standards for refugee protection and often result in deportees ending up in environments hostile to their safety and dignity.
Some Afghans detained in the United States have been left without adequate opportunity to contest their removal. Shawn VanDiver, a spokesman for the organization working on Afghan detainees, says most lack the chance to hold proper court hearings and that the legal process has stalled in many cases.
In a related development, the Trump administration has announced that it will no longer process new applications from Afghans following a security incident in Washington, DC., in November. The decision comes amid broader scrutiny of how the United States handles asylum claims from nationals of war‑torn regions.
Congressional members are pressing the administration to reconsider its position, arguing that the enforcement of forced returns to Afghanistan would contravene promises made during the 2021 pull‑out and will expose those individuals to violence or death.
The Trump administration has yet to respond publicly to the lawmakers’ request. Meanwhile, Afghan allies in detention camps remain uncertain of their fate, with the scheduled flight to Pakistan highlighting the urgency of a policy review.
