WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump’s administration plans to deport Afghan nationals detained in the United States to Afghanistan through Pakistan, according to court documents, prompting warnings from advocacy groups that the transfers could place vulnerable people in danger.
The proposed operation has raised particular concern for Afghans who previously worked alongside American military personnel and aid organisations.
The Rights advocates say some fled their homeland because they feared retaliation from the Taliban over those connections.
Pakistan would serve as a transit destination before the individuals were transported onward to Afghanistan.
The reported arrangements concern planned removals and do not establish that the flights or subsequent transfers have already taken place.
The disclosure has drawn scrutiny because the intended final destination is the country that many affected Afghans left while seeking protection from Taliban rule.
He accused the administration of disregarding legal obligations and human rights concerns in its treatment of Afghan nationals facing deportation.
The criticism broader anxiety among organisations supporting Afghans who assisted American operations and later sought refuge abroad.
For those individuals, advocates argue, removal could carry consequences beyond the loss of permission to remain in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told AP by email that Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not comment on future deportation operations, citing operational security and the safety of its personnel.
The response did not provide public clarification about the proposed flights, the individuals involved or arrangements for their onward movement.
Safety Questions Remain Central
The reported plan places the treatment of Afghan detainees and their safety after removal at the centre of renewed criticism.
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Advocacy groups maintain that previous service with American forces or organisations can make return particularly dangerous. Their warnings underscore the human stakes of the proposed transfers through Pakistan to Afghanistan.
