Trump Administration Plans to Deport More Than 150 Afghans Through Pakistan

The administration of United States President Donald Trump is preparing to deport more than 150 Afghan immigrants detained in the country, with reports indicating that the first removal flight could leave as early as Monday, November 2.

The planned operation has raised concerns among immigration lawyers, veterans and refugee advocacy organisations, particularly because some of those facing removal are relatives of Afghans who worked alongside US military forces during the country’s two-decade presence in Afghanistan.

According to Reuters, citing a US official and a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups, the deportations are expected to involve Afghans who fled their country following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

The New York Times, also cited by Reuters, reported that more than 150 Afghans could be affected, with dozens reportedly detained in Louisiana ahead of the planned operation.

The deportation route is expected to pass through Pakistan before the individuals are returned to Afghanistan. Washington does not maintain diplomatic relations with the Taliban authorities, making direct arrangements for deportations to Afghanistan difficult.

However, the proposed use of Pakistan has drawn concern because Islamabad has been conducting its own campaign to remove Afghan nationals, with millions returned across the border since 2023.

Advocates fear that Afghans transferred to Pakistan could subsequently be expelled to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where some may face persecution because of their previous connections to US forces or other circumstances.

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, an organisation supporting Afghans evacuated during the US withdrawal, warned that some of those facing removal are relatives of people who served alongside American troops.

He said the families could be at risk if returned to Afghanistan and urged the US Congress to provide temporary protected status for Afghans who remain in the country.

Reports by NBC News and ABC News indicate that the group could include people with different immigration circumstances, including individuals with deportation orders, rejected asylum applications and others whose legal cases are still pending. Some detainees have reportedly been transferred to an immigration detention facility in Louisiana from other parts of the United States.

The US Department of Homeland Security has declined to confirm details of the proposed operation, saying it does not comment on future removal flights for operational security reasons.

The State Department has maintained that countries have the right to manage their borders and immigration processes while ensuring the safety and security of their citizens. Pakistan’s government has not publicly confirmed whether it has agreed to receive the proposed flight.

The planned deportations come amid the Trump administration’s wider immigration enforcement campaign, which has included restrictions on refugee admissions and the termination of temporary protections previously available to some Afghan nationals.

The United States evacuated tens of thousands of Afghans following the withdrawal of its forces in August 2021, including people who had worked with American military personnel and their families.

Human rights advocates argue that returning vulnerable Afghans to a country governed by the Taliban could expose them to serious danger. They are calling for individual cases to be reviewed and for detainees to have an opportunity to raise claims that they could face persecution or torture if removed.

With the proposed flight expected in the coming days, lawyers and advocacy groups are seeking further information about the people affected, their legal status and the arrangements for their transfer.