Lawmakers push Trump to pause Afghan deportation flights

Ordinary Afghans in Louisiana face immediate removal to Pakistan following a joint letter from 66 US lawmakers. The group urged President Donald Trump’s administration to halt the planned deportations. The letter was sent on Monday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Advocacy groups report that at least 150 Afghans face removal beginning Tuesday. These individuals are currently held in detention facilities in Louisiana. The lawmakers warned that deportees could face retaliation. They cited connections to the United States or criticism of the Taliban as primary risks.

Washington has no diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. The Taliban took power there following the US military withdrawal in August 2021. Pakistan has returned millions of Afghans to Afghanistan in recent years. Human Rights First confirmed a flight carrying some Afghan deportees from Alexandria, Louisiana, to Pakistan is scheduled for Tuesday.

Department of Homeland Security officials stated in court filings that some individuals would eventually be returned to Afghanistan. The AP reported this position. The planned removals are part of a larger immigration crackdown. The administration has agreements with at least 35 countries to accept nationals of other states.

Refugees International and Human Rights First estimate that at least 25,000 people have been forcibly transferred to third countries. Critics argue these arrangements weaken international protections for refugees. Advocates said the Pakistan deportations could also include Iranians. The administration has previously transferred small numbers of Iranians through third countries.

Shawn VanDiver, founder of AfghanEvac, said most Afghans facing deportation lacked proper legal representation. He described speaking on Monday with a former Afghan government police officer. The officer expected to be deported and feared being returned to Afghanistan. Others had worked for the former Afghan government or the United States.

Trump has sought to end Afghan resettlement programs established under former President Joe Biden. More than 120,000 Afghans were evacuated in 2021. In September, Washington extended operations at Qatar’s Camp As Sayliyah for nine months. The facility houses more than 1,000 Afghans who helped US forces.

Afghans in the US initially received humanitarian parole. In 2022, the Biden administration granted them Temporary Protected Status for 18 months. Severe backlogs have prevented many from advancing asylum applications. Trump halted processing of Afghan applications after an Afghan man allegedly shot two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC, in November 2025. Afghan nationals were also included in a blanket visa ban earlier this year. Advocates are seeking legislation to protect Afghans in the United States, including a bipartisan bill to restore Temporary Protected Status.