Deportation Threats Loom Over Afghan Migrants in the U.S. and Pakistan

Afghan migrants in the U.S. and Pakistan are facing threats of deportation. The Trump administration is terminating Temporary Protected Status for 14,600 Afghans, while Pakistan is actively expelling migrants. This results in Afghans risking return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan amidst worsening political and safety conditions.

Afghans currently residing in the United States and Pakistan are facing imminent deportation threats as the Trump administration terminates temporary deportation protections for thousands of individuals. As a direct consequence, approximately 14,600 Afghans in the United States will lose their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) by May, alongside the continuation of a crackdown on Afghans by the Pakistani government, which is compelling many to flee back to Afghanistan where Taliban rule prevails.

The Trump administration’s measures reflect a stringent immigration policy, as they rescinded TPS for Afghans under conditions that were previously deemed necessary for such protections. This decision correlates with President Trump’s prior promises to enforce stricter immigration control and to revoke legal protections for migrants he labels as illegally present in the U.S. Reports indicate that asylum seekers, particularly those who used the CBP One app, have begun to receive revocation notices, further complicating their status.

Simultaneously, Pakistan’s government is enacting the second phase of a deportation program aimed at Afghans, with public support for such actions being notably high. Islamabad has commenced efforts to expel approximately 800,000 Afghans, leading to a substantial number of individuals voluntarily leaving the country. Reports indicate that over 24,000 Afghans have departed Pakistan since April 1, with many expressing fear of potential arrest and deportation.

Political motivations behind this crackdown are evident, with public sentiment in Pakistan turning against Afghan migrants and authorities linking them to rising violence. Critics argue that the deportations are politically motivated rather than humanitarian, emphasizing the need for a more humane approach to the migration crisis. Femaleha Lodhi, former Pakistani representative to the UN, criticized the method of deportation, suggesting it should have been handled in a more gradual and compassionate manner.

The imminent deportation of Afghan migrants from the United States and Pakistan poses significant risks, pushing vulnerable individuals back into a dangerous situation under Taliban rule. Amid a tightening immigration policy in the U.S. and a politically charged deportation campaign in Pakistan, Afghans are finding themselves in increasingly precarious circumstances. Advocates for migrants highlight the pressing need for humane treatment and protection that acknowledges the dangers they face.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au