By Salma El-Sakka
The Trump administration is preparing to deport dozens of Afghan immigrants and asylum seekers to Pakistan on a charter flight that could depart as early as Monday, a senior administration official told NBC News. The flight, which has not been publicly announced, would be the first of its kind and has drawn sharp criticism from rights advocates who say it could endanger the lives of those on board.
Critics warn of life-threatening risks
Among those facing deportation are relatives of Afghans who worked with the U.S. military during the 20-year war against the Taliban. Advocates say that if Pakistan returns them to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan — as is widely expected — they could face severe repercussions, including persecution, imprisonment, or worse. Shawn VanDiver, president of the advocacy group AfghanEvac, said the administration is likely aware that Afghans sent to Pakistan would be at high risk of being sent back to Afghanistan.
Legal and policy context
President Donald Trump halted admissions for Afghans and other refugees when he returned to office last year as part of a broader immigration crackdown. His administration has deported thousands of people to countries that are not their own, a practice immigration lawyers say skirts international laws against returning asylum seekers to the countries they fled. The legality of such third-country deportation agreements is set to be debated by the Supreme Court in December. It is unclear what formal agreement the U.S. may have with Pakistan, but the senior official said the flight could not land without Pakistan's knowledge and approval.
Detainees moved to Louisiana facility
VanDiver said AfghanEvac confirmed that in recent days at least 80 Afghans have been transferred to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center from 34 other ICE facilities nationwide, 19 of them without legal representation. He said the center may be holding hundreds of Afghan detainees and has served as a hub before deportations.
Pakistan's crackdown on Afghans
Pakistan, which has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, launched a sweeping crackdown in 2023 that pressured hundreds of thousands to leave and forcibly deported others. Those returned to Afghanistan face a country battered by humanitarian crises, widespread malnutrition, ongoing conflict with Pakistan, and a dramatic rollback of women's rights under the Taliban.
Personal story: Charlotte's husband
Charlotte, a U.S. citizen whose Afghan husband has been in ICE detention since early 2025, said he was moved to the Louisiana facility this month and told he would be deported in early November. His asylum case has been pending for nine years. Charlotte said her husband was detained after a traffic stop in West Virginia last year, despite holding a valid driver's license and work permit. The family sold their home and moved to be near him in Pennsylvania, where they could only visit through plexiglass. Now in Louisiana, over 1,200 miles away, they cannot visit or say goodbye. Charlotte said her husband is growing a beard to comply with Taliban rules for men's facial hair, and she fears for his safety.
Broader implications
VanDiver and others say the treatment of Afghan allies could discourage people in other countries from working with U.S. forces in future conflicts, harming national security. The senior administration official responded, "I don't think they care." The White House referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security, which declined to confirm removal operations for operational security reasons. ICE and the State Department also did not confirm the flight.
Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar
The deportation flight may also serve as a test case for Camp As Sayliyah, a U.S.-run camp in Qatar where more than 1,000 Afghans slated for U.S. resettlement have been stranded since Trump returned to office. As of July, the camp housed 287 men, 319 women, and 433 children, many of whom worked alongside U.S. forces and have been extensively vetted. The group includes 150 relatives of U.S. military service members. The administration previously considered sending them to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. AfghanEvac accused the administration of planning the Pakistan flight while the country is distracted by next week's midterm elections, "hoping no one is watching."
