Politics · United States · 3 hrs ago
US plans to deport detained Afghans to Afghanistan via Pakistan
The Trump administration plans to deport detained Afghans from the United States.
The plan involves people held at immigration facilities in Louisiana, with flights to Pakistan and onward transport to Afghanistan.
Court documents say the first removals could begin as soon as Monday, though another group cited a flight scheduled for Tuesday.
Many Afghans facing removal fled after the Taliban took power in 2021, including people who had helped US forces or aid groups.
Advocates warn return could expose them to Taliban retaliation, while the US says it does not comment on future removal operations for security reasons.
Washington lacks diplomatic ties with the Taliban, so Pakistan is part of the route; Pakistan has expelled more than two million Afghans to Afghanistan since 2023.
The deportations are expected to proceed via Pakistan, but the number of people involved and whether any have legal protections against return remain unclear.
The Trump administration plans to deport Afghan immigrants detained in the United States to Afghanistan via Pakistan, according to court documents and a US official.
The first deportation flight was expected as early as November 2, though Human Rights First said it had confirmed a flight for Tuesday.
More than 150 Afghan immigrants are expected to be deported, according to a New York Times report cited by the Straits Times.
Rights groups say those sent back could face retaliation from the Taliban.
The administration says it will not confirm future removal operations, citing operational security.
- Who
- The Trump administration plans to deport Afghan immigrants detained in the United States.
- What
- The immigrants are expected to be sent to Afghanistan via Pakistan.
- When
- The first flight was expected as early as November 2; Human Rights First said it had confirmed a flight for Tuesday.
- Where
- The deportations are planned to start from Louisiana, with Pakistan as the transit point and Afghanistan as the destination.
- Why
- The administration’s stated aim for its immigration crackdown and deportation drive is to improve domestic security. Washington lacks diplomatic ties with the Taliban and cannot directly arrange deportations to Afghanistan.
US administration
Rights advocates
Safety and legality
US administration
The administration cited operational security and personnel safety as reasons it would not confirm future removal operations.
Rights advocates
Advocates say deportees could face retaliation from the Taliban and that the plan risks their lives.
Purpose and impact
US administration
Trump says the immigration crackdown and deportation drive aim to improve domestic security.
Rights advocates
Rights advocates say the crackdown violates due process and free speech and creates an unsafe environment for minorities.
A US official and advocacy groups said the administration planned to deport some Afghan immigrants to Afghanistan.
A senior ICE official acknowledged in a court filing that an Afghan immigrant was scheduled for a charter flight from Louisiana to Pakistan, with further transport to Afghanistan.
Federal prosecutors filed a court document saying another Afghan immigrant was scheduled to be deported to Afghanistan sometime the following week.
The first flight was expected to depart; Human Rights First said it had confirmed a flight from Louisiana to Pakistan for Tuesday.
- Planned route
- United States via Pakistan to Afghanistan
- Departure state
- Louisiana
- Expected number
- Over 150 Afghan immigrants, according to a New York Times report cited by the Straits Times
- First flight
- Expected as early as Nov 2
- Transit country
- Pakistan
4 sources
Taliban voices 'serious concern' over US plan to deport Afghan migrants via Pakistan
Taliban government voices ‘serious concern’ over US’ Afghan deportation plans
Afghans detained in U.S. face deportation to their home country via Pakistan, documents show
What people are saying
This is absolutely unconscionable
brothers and sons of men who served alongside US forces, families the Taliban already has every reason to target
It is beyond egregious that this administration plans to carry out an unprecedented mass deportation flight of Afghans, forcibly sending them through Pakistan and into the hands of the Taliban