"The Taliban is waiting for them": Washington wants to deport dozens of Afghan refugees

The Trump administration plans to deport more than 150 Afghan migrants back to Afghanistan via Pakistan, a move drawing criticism from human rights organizations. The first flight may take off on Monday. Many of the migrants are family members of those who assisted the U.S. military.

The Trump administration plans to deport more than 150 Afghan migrants back to Afghanistan, a move drawing fire from human rights groups and military veterans. The deportation is expected to be carried out via Pakistan due to the lack of diplomatic relations with the Taliban regime, and the first flight could take off as early as Monday. Many of those slated for deportation fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover and the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Shawn VanDiver, head of the AfghanEvac coalition, explained that some are brothers and sons of those who served alongside American forces. Dozens of the migrants are already being held in detention facilities in Louisiana. The Department of Homeland Security declined to confirm the existence of future deportation operations. President Trump argues the policy is intended to improve domestic security. Human rights activists say the step tramples due process and freedom of speech.