The administration of US President Donald Trump is planning to deport more than 150 Afghan immigrants, including people who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, according to reports by US media.
The proposed removals could begin as early as Monday, November 2, with the first group expected to travel from the United States to Pakistan before being sent across the border into Afghanistan, according to a report by The New York Times, citing three US officials.
Dozens of Afghan immigrants have reportedly been detained in Louisiana ahead of the planned operation. A US official confirmed to Reuters that the deportations would be routed through Pakistan because Washington does not have diplomatic relations with the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan.
Among those facing removal are reportedly relatives of Afghans who worked alongside US military forces before the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Shawn VanDiver, president of the AfghanEvac coalition, warned that some families could face serious danger if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
“Some of these are the brothers and sons of men who served alongside US forces, families the Taliban already has every reason to target,” VanDiver said, calling on Congress to provide temporary protected status for Afghans in the United States.
The proposed deportations have raised concerns among immigration lawyers and human rights advocates, who warn that some of those affected could face persecution or other serious harm. Reports also indicate that at least one person facing removal is gay, a group that rights organisations say faces severe restrictions and risks under Taliban rule.
The US Department of Homeland Security declined to confirm the planned operation, saying it does not comment on prospective removal operations for security reasons. The Trump administration has defended its broader deportation programme as part of efforts to strengthen domestic security and enforce immigration laws.
The proposed removals come amid Pakistan’s ongoing campaign to return Afghan nationals who lack legal documentation. Pakistani authorities have expelled more than two million Afghans since 2023, adding to the displacement pressures facing people returning to a country governed by the Taliban.