150 Afghans face deportation to Pakistan as 66 lawmakers demand a pause

The United States is preparing to move Afghan refugees to a third country for the first time in a major wave of removals. Sixty-six members of Congress sent a letter on Monday urging the White House to stop these planned deportations. The letter was addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The lawmakers cited reports that at least 150 Afghans faced removal beginning Tuesday from detention centers in Louisiana.

The move fits into a wider strategy of transferring non-citizens to other nations. The administration has signed agreements with at least 35 countries to accept such transfers. Critics argue these deals weaken protections for refugees. They note that the United States often cannot return people directly to their home countries due to risks of torture or persecution. Refugees International and Human Rights First estimate that at least 25,000 people have already been sent to third countries under this policy.

Pakistan was selected as the destination for this specific group. The United States has no diplomatic relations with Afghanistan, where the Taliban have held power since August 2021. Pakistan has returned millions of Afghans to their country in recent years. The relationship between the two nations has worsened. Human Rights First confirmed that a flight carrying some of these deportees was scheduled to leave Alexandria, Louisiana, for Pakistan on Tuesday.

The letter from Congress warns that deportees could face retaliation. The lawmakers stated that Afghans who helped American forces or criticized the Taliban may be targeted. They emphasized Washington's responsibility to protect those who risked their families' safety. The Associated Press reported that Department of Homeland Security officials said in court filings that some of these individuals would eventually be returned to Afghanistan.

Shawn VanDiver, the founder of AfghanEvac, said most of the Afghans facing deportation lacked legal representation. He described a conversation with a former police officer who expected to be sent home. VanDiver noted that many of the individuals had worked for the former Afghan government or the US military. He said the group also included people with relatives who served in those roles. Advocates suggested that the transfers might also include Iranians, who have previously been moved through third countries.

The current administration has sought to end resettlement programs established under President Joe Biden. More than 120,000 Afghans were evacuated in 2021, and some still remain in overseas facilities. In September, the US extended operations at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar for nine months. That facility houses over 1,000 Afghans who assisted US forces. In 2022, the Biden administration granted these evacuees Temporary Protected Status for 18 months to allow time for their cases to be processed.

Processing of Afghan applications stopped after an incident in November 2025 in Washington, DC, where an Afghan man shot two National Guardsmen. The administration also included Afghan nationals in a blanket visa ban earlier this year. Both measures have faced legal challenges. VanDiver said advocates are now pushing for legislation to protect Afghans in the US. A bipartisan bill aims to reinstate Temporary Protected Status after the current administration withdrew it.