ICE prepares deportation of Afghans who assisted US military

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is developing logistics for the forced return of Afghan citizens, including those who worked for US military and humanitarian structures during the fighting.

Route via Pakistan

According to court documents, officials have confirmed intentions to deport at least two Afghan migrants. To implement the plan, charter flights are being prepared from the city of Alexandria in Louisiana to Pakistan. From there, the deportees are planned to be transported to Afghanistan.

Threat of persecution

Human rights defenders warn that after returning to their home country, these individuals may face the threat of persecution by the Taliban movement. The situation is considered particularly dangerous for those who directly collaborated with the US Armed Forces during the years-long military operation in the country.

Congressmen's reaction

Democratic Senator from Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, criticised the actions of the executive branch. In his statement, he emphasised:

«Ми пообіцяли нашим афганським союзникам, що Америка не покине їх після того, як вони допомагали нашим військовим і захищали їх під час війни в Афганістані. Ця адміністрація зраджує цю обіцянку, депортуючи їх туди, де на них можуть чекати катування та смерть» (We promised our Afghan allies that America would not abandon them after they helped our troops and protected them during the war in Afghanistan. This administration is betraying that promise by deporting them to a place where they may face torture and death).

Halting of the resettlement programme

Following Donald Trump's return to the White House, his team suspended the Afghan resettlement programme introduced by the previous administration. This initiative granted the right to relocate to the US to those who assisted US military and other institutions during the conflict.

As a result, thousands of citizens who had already undergone lengthy vetting processes and were awaiting resettlement were left outside the US. Some of them are currently located at the US military base Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar.

Situation at the camp in Qatar

In September 2026, the Trump administration decided to extend the operation of this camp by another nine months. Currently, more than a thousand Afghans are staying there. Among them are former assistants to US military personnel, as well as family members of US servicemen.