More than 150 Afghan nationals currently in US immigration detention have faced uncertainty regarding potential deportation to Afghanistan or Pakistan in recent days, prompting legal intervention and advocacy efforts.
A deportation flight originally scheduled for earlier this month was halted by federal court order. As the temporary court order expired, immigration advocates anticipated removals could proceed during the week of November 16. However, late Tuesday developments indicated that at least some detainees on the original flight manifest no longer had specified departure dates, and several Afghans were transferred from staging facilities to long-term detention centers, suggesting the immediate threat of removal may have been delayed. Shawn VanDiver, founder of advocacy coalition #AfghanEvac, characterized the situation as creating “fragile relief” amid “whiplash” for individuals who had already survived conflict.
VanDiver and other advocates argue that some in the targeted group have family members who assisted US military operations following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Human Rights First and other organizations have warned of “grave, systematic dangers” for Afghans returned to Afghanistan, citing documented patterns of arbitrary detention, executions, and violence by Taliban authorities. Members of the group reportedly include individuals with family ties to US military efforts, women, members of the Hazara ethnic minority, and at least one gay man.
Immigration advocates are pushing for congressional action to provide temporary protected status to Afghan nationals already in the US through July 2029. More than 60 lawmakers have signed a letter calling for cancellation of planned deportation flights. The Department of Homeland Security stated that it complies with all lawful court orders and that ICE does not comment on prospective removal operations for security reasons.
Policy experts note the situation reflects a broader Trump administration approach involving third-country deportations, including arrangements with Pakistan and discussions with Iran regarding Iranian nationals. The US Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to strip certain protections from Afghan nationals, though litigation continues over the legality of deporting individuals to countries where they have no connection.
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