A number of Afghan refugees awaiting resettlement in the United States from Pakistan say they are at risk of forced deportation and fear for their safety if returned to Afghanistan.
The refugees, many of whom worked with the U.S. government or Western organizations, say they have been living in limbo for months. Recent restrictions imposed by former President Donald Trump’s administration on refugee admissions have further exacerbated their uncertainty.
“These new restrictions have only made our situation worse,” said one refugee in Pakistan, speaking on condition of anonymity.
CBS News, citing documents, has reported that more than 40,000 Afghans who have already been vetted by U.S. authorities and granted permission to leave Afghanistan remain stranded without clear prospects for relocation.
Since 2021, the U.S. resettlement program has facilitated the relocation of nearly 200,000 Afghans, including Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders, human rights activists, journalists, and relatives of those already in the U.S.
Michael McCaul, a Republican congressman and chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed alarm over the situation, calling on the Trump administration to fulfill its obligations to Afghan allies.
“I have heard horrifying stories of these allies being tortured and killed. If you want to review them again, fine! But they have already undergone one of the most thorough background checks in U.S. history,” McCaul said.
While a federal judge has blocked the resettlement ban, the admissions process remains stalled. The Trump administration has argued that restoring refugee programs will take time, citing the termination of agency contracts, staffing reductions, and funding freezes as primary obstacles.
For Afghan refugees in Pakistan, the uncertainty continues, with many fearing that deportation could mean a return to life under Taliban rule, where they are at risk of persecution or worse.
