US and Pakistan Deportation Threats Loom Over Afghan Migrants

Afghan migrants in the US face deportation as the Trump administration ends temporary protections for about 14,600 individuals. Simultaneously, Pakistan is expelling Afghan refugees, targeting around 800,000 individuals who are in the country illegally. Both governments’ policies reflect increased pressure on Afghans to return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan amid political motivations and public sentiment against migrants.

Afghan migrants in the US and Pakistan are at risk of deportation as governments tighten restrictions on temporary protections. The Trump administration announced that approximately 14,600 Afghans will lose their temporary deportation protection (TPS) in May, building on a broader crackdown on immigration. This decision places these individuals in jeopardy of returning to a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, highlighting a critical shift in U.S. immigration policies under President Trump’s administration.

Temporary protection status (TPS) is granted to individuals from countries experiencing significant turmoil, such as war or natural disasters. It offers provisional residency and work permits for 6-18 months, renewable at the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security. Recently, Homeland Security expressed that conditions in Afghanistan no longer justified TPS, amid Trump’s ongoing efforts to reduce legal protections for migrants, contrary to a previous court ruling that halted his attempts to end these statuses during his presidency.

While U.S. policies shift, Pakistan is similarly expelling Afghan refugees. The authorities are asking thousands of Afghans to leave or face arrest and deportation. The government aims to deport around 800,000 refugees, formalizing a crackdown initiated earlier this year which has already displaced many undocumented Afghans. The UN refugee agency reports that nearly 25,000 Afghans have left Pakistan since April 1, 2023, with some being forcibly deported.

Community sentiment in Pakistan has shifted against Afghans, with heightened public support for deportation. Many in Pakistan blame Afghan migrants for terrorism and insecurity, advocating for their return to Afghanistan. Analysts suggest that the deportation drive is also politically motivated, meant to apply pressure on the Taliban. This stark approach disregards the humanitarian needs of Afghan migrants, emphasizing the need for a more humane and gradual process of repatriation.

The situation for Afghan migrants is critical as both the US and Pakistan impose measures that may force them back into Taliban governance. The termination of temporary protected status in the US alongside Pakistan’s mass deportations raises humanitarian concerns. Political motivations shape these policies, indicating an authoritarian approach that conflicts with the rights and safety of individuals fleeing persecution.

Original Source: www.abc.net.au