Deportation Threats to Afghan Migrants in the US and Pakistan

Afghan migrants face deportation threats in the U.S. and Pakistan as the Trump administration revokes Temporary Protected Status for 14,600 individuals, while Pakistan initiates a crackdown on 800,000 Afghans. Both countries’ policies jeopardize the safety of returning Afghans amid potential Taliban rule.

Afghan migrants residing in the United States are facing the imminent loss of their temporary deportation protections, as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration enforcement. A representative from the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that approximately 14,600 Afghans who are eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will see their status revoked in May, contributing to a broader crackdown on immigration initiated by President Trump. These measures have raised grave concerns about the potential fate of returning individuals in a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Concurrently, Pakistan is implementing a stringent crackdown on Afghan refugees by demanding their departure or facing arrest and subsequent deportation. The government in Islamabad has announced plans to deport an estimated 800,000 Afghans as part of an ongoing program. Since April, the United Nations estimates that over 24,000 Afghans have departed from Pakistan, nearly half of whom were forcibly deported.

The circumstances surrounding the deportations in both the United States and Pakistan are alarming. With the looming threat of Taliban rule, the future of Afghan migrants returning to their homeland remains deeply uncertain. Temporary Protected Status provides vital legal protections to those from countries experiencing severe turmoil, yet recent actions by government authorities suggest an unwillingness to maintain such protections, thereby risking the safety of returning individuals.

In Pakistan, increasing public sentiment supports the deportations, reflecting a belief among many that Afghan migrants are contributing to local instability. A university teacher voiced this sentiment, stating, “They eat here, live here, but are against us… terrorism is coming from there (Afghanistan), and they should leave; that is their country.” Critics argue that the political motivations for these deportation actions are evident, given the deteriorating relationship between Pakistan and the Taliban.

In summary, Afghan migrants in the United States and Pakistan are facing significant threats of deportation amidst a backdrop of political and social upheaval. The revocation of Temporary Protected Status in the U.S. and the aggressive crackdown by the Pakistani government complicate the already precarious situation for these individuals. As the potential for returning to Taliban rule looms, the need for humane and measured responses to these migrants is critical to safeguard their futures.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au