The Trump administration is preparing to deport at least 150 Afghans over the next 48 hours, first to Pakistan and then to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Many of those facing deportation are relatives of those who worked alongside the United States. They could face severe reprisals from the Taliban upon their return. Nick Schifrin discussed more with Shawn VanDiver of Afghan Evac.
Geoff Bennett:
The Trump administration is preparing to deport at least 150 Afghans over the next 48 hours, first to Pakistan and then to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Many of those facing deportation are relatives of those who worked alongside the United States, and they could face serious reprisals from the Taliban upon their return.
This is Nick Schifrin.
Nick Schifrin:
Geoff, attorneys and advocates for Afghans here in the United States and those stuck in uncertainty abroad, say the United States has not done enough in years for those who fought alongside or are family members of Afghans who helped the United States during its 20-year campaign in Afghanistan.
Tonight, a group of more than 60 members of Congress are calling on the Homeland Security and State Departments to reverse the deportation. And now, they say, the 150 Afghan deportees fear for their lives if they are forced to return to their country of birth.
We now turn to Shawn Vandiver, president of AfghanEvac, an organization assisting with resettlement efforts.
Shawn Vandiver, thank you very much. Welcome back to “News Hour”.
Tell us about these Afghans who are being expelled today, tomorrow. What are their stories?
Shawn Vandiver:
The simple fact is that this is a family of people who served alongside our military. They are women. We know of three women believed to be on this flight. He is a police officer, a former police officer.
And it doesn’t matter what their job is. The fact is that these people have been here in the United States for a long time and are now in grave danger, being sent back to certain death by the Taliban.
Nick Schifrin:
Talk about this certain death. Some judges have ruled that no, the risk is not that high. What risk do you think these Afghans face if they are forced to return to their country?
Shawn Vandiver:
Well, the horrific photos in my phone of Afghans killed for serving with us since the fall of Kabul would say otherwise.
We know people are being taken away. People may be victims of rogue members of the Taliban, but people are certainly victims. And frankly, these judges don’t know what they’re talking about. They should read the reports on national conditions which exist and which are surely attached to these cases.
Nick Schifrin:
And, in fact, the State Department says there is a risk that everyone will return to Afghanistan, as they call it, level four.
I spoke to the State Department and the White House. They referred me to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS declined to provide details about the expulsions, but the administration argued that it was removing criminals from the country, including those who arrived here illegally, and that some of those expelled were indeed guilty of crimes.
What is your response to this overall argument?
Shawn Vandiver:
Even if the deportees have crimes, which most of these people don’t — we know that — but even for those who do, whatever their crimes may have been, the punishment is not supposed to be death.
And that’s why AfghanEvac is working alongside Congress and others to lead our campaign to stop this flight. And your viewers can go to AfghanEvac.org to learn more and help us.
Nick Schifrin:
And finally, you and I have been talking about this for years. To what extent do you think today’s expulsion reflects a broader policy approach by this administration, compared to the United States in the past? Is it part of a trend or not?
Shawn Vandiver:
Well, when this administration took office, we had some hopes that it would continue the safest and most secure legal immigration pathway that we had built under the Biden administration, called Enduring Welcome.
They shut it down on day one, and every day since, AfghanEvac and our partners have been working against a hostile administration, an administration hostile to Afghans. It was horrible. These people do not deserve to live in this limbo. It literally kills them.
And I just can’t imagine, as a parent, for example, not having held my baby for six years, almost six years, because whoever’s sitting behind the Resolute desk doesn’t think we’re good enough to reunite with our family.
Nick Schifrin:
Shawn Vandiver is president of AfghanEvac.
Thank you so much.
Shawn Vandiver:
THANKS.
Gn headline
