US and Pakistan’s Deportation Threats Loom Over Afghan Migrants

Afghan migrants in the United States and Pakistan face imminent deportation as the Trump administration terminates temporary protections and Pakistan enacts a crackdown. Approximately 14,600 Afghans in the US will lose TPS, while Pakistan targets 800,000 Afghans for deportation amid rising violence. Both situations prompt fears of returning to Taliban rule, drawing criticism for inhumane treatment.

Afghan migrants in the United States and Pakistan are facing imminent deportation threats as the Trump administration ends temporary deportation protections. Approximately 14,600 Afghans in the US will see their temporary protected status (TPS) terminated, increasing their risk of being sent back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. This policy aligns with the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on immigration, which aims to deport individuals whose legal protections have been revoked.

The TPS program, designed to shield individuals from deportation during crises in their home countries, may no longer apply to Afghans due to a change in conditions deemed acceptable by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated that the circumstances in Afghanistan no longer warranted protected status, despite federal court interventions halting previous attempts to end the program entirely.

In Pakistan, Afghan refugees are facing a similarly stark reality, with government officials urging them to leave the country or risk arrest and deportation. Following the cancellation of residence permits, Islamabad has initiated a deportation program targeting approximately 800,000 Afghans. This effort has garnered public support amid rising tensions and violence attributed to Afghan individuals by Pakistani authorities.

The situation has prompted many Afghans in Pakistan to leave voluntarily, as they fear arrest and the humiliation that accompanies it. Reports indicate that significant numbers of Afghans have fled to avoid potential persecution by the Taliban upon their return. Human Rights Watch has criticized Pakistan for employing coercive methods to compel Afghans to return home, warning of the dire conditions they would face in Afghanistan.

Furthermore, analysts suggest that the deportation efforts are politically motivated, aimed at pressuring the Taliban amid deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Calls have been made for a more humane and gradual approach to deportations, recognizing the complexities of the situation facing Afghan migrants in both countries.

In conclusion, the impending deportation of Afghan migrants from the United States and Pakistan highlights the precariousness of their situations amid changing political landscapes. The termination of temporary protected status in the US exposes many to the risks associated with Taliban rule, while the Pakistani government’s crackdown emphasizes a shift in public sentiment against Afghan refugees. A call for humane treatment and gradual deportation processes underlines the need for a compassionate approach to these complex challenges faced by Afghan migrants.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au