66 Lawmakers Demand Pause on Afghan Deportations to Pakistan
At least 150 Afghans face removal from Louisiana detention centers starting Tuesday, prompting a joint letter from congressional representatives.
By Giulia Marshall ·
Sixty-six members of Congress sent a letter on Monday urging the Trump administration to stop the planned deportation of Afghans to Pakistan. The lawmakers addressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, citing reports that at least 150 individuals would begin leaving detention facilities in Louisiana on Tuesday. They warned that these people could face retaliation in their home country because of their ties to the United States or their criticism of the Taliban.
Human Rights First confirmed that a flight carrying some of the deportees departed from Alexandria, Louisiana, for Pakistan on Tuesday. The group noted that many of those facing removal assisted coalition forces before the US military withdrew from Afghanistan in August 2021. Advocates argued that Washington has a responsibility to protect those who risked their safety to help American troops.
The removals are part of a wider immigration strategy involving agreements with at least 35 countries to accept nationals of other states. Refugees International and Human Rights First estimate that at least 25,000 people have been forcibly transferred to third countries under these arrangements. Critics say this approach weakens international protections for asylum seekers, sometimes sending individuals to nations with poor human rights records. Some advocates believe the Pakistan flights may also include Iranians, who have been transferred through third countries for eventual return to Iran.
Shawn VanDiver, the founder of AfghanEvac, stated that most Afghans facing deportation lacked proper legal representation to contest their removal. He spoke on Monday with a former Afghan government police officer who expected to be deported and feared being returned to Afghanistan. VanDiver said others in detention had worked for the former Afghan government or the US, or had relatives who did.
The United States has no diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, where the Taliban holds power. Pakistan has returned millions of Afghans to the country in recent years as relations with the Taliban have worsened. The Associated Press reported that Department of Homeland Security officials filed in court that some deportees would eventually be returned to Afghanistan, while others would remain in Pakistan.
President Trump has sought to end Afghan resettlement programs established under President Joe Biden. More than 120,000 Afghans were evacuated in 2021, with some remaining in overseas facilities. In September, Washington extended operations at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar for nine months. That facility houses more than 1,000 Afghans who helped US forces.
Afghans evacuated to the US initially received humanitarian parole. In 2022, the Biden administration granted them Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, allowing them to work legally while their immigration cases were resolved. Severe backlogs have prevented many from advancing their asylum applications or requests for special protection linked to their coalition service, VanDiver said.
The Trump administration halted processing of Afghan applications in November 2025 after an Afghan man allegedly shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC. Afghan nationals were also included in a blanket visa ban earlier this year, with the administration saying it would review their immigration applications. Both measures faced court challenges. VanDiver said advocates are currently seeking legislation to protect Afghans in the US, including a bipartisan bill that would grant Temporary Protected Status to many after the administration withdrew it.
