WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued removal notices to several Afghan refugees living in North Carolina, ordering them to leave the country within seven days or face deportation — a move that has sparked outrage among human rights advocates and immigration supporters.
According to Newsweek, the notices were sent under a directive from the Trump administration, which has taken a hardline stance on immigration as part of former President Donald Trump’s 2024 re-election campaign. While Trump has emphasized deporting immigrants with criminal records, the new push reportedly includes Afghan nationals who had been admitted under humanitarian protections.
Thousands of Afghans who supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan — as interpreters, analysts, or contractors — were evacuated following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Many entered the country through humanitarian parole, Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). These pathways were created to protect individuals at high risk of Taliban retaliation.
Now, under a shift in policy, the administration is moving to revoke TPS and other temporary protections for many Afghan nationals, potentially forcing them back into Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
One refugee, speaking anonymously to local outlet WRAL, said:
“If we go back to Afghanistan, we are not safe. It’s like we’re signing our own death warrant.”
From August 2021 to August 2024, approximately 150,000 Afghan nationals were resettled in the U.S., many of them families with young children. The sudden removal notices have triggered sharp criticism from civil rights organizations, who warn that forced deportations could result in severe harm or death for those sent back.
Immigration experts say the decision undermines U.S. commitments made to Afghan allies and could damage America’s credibility with future partners in conflict zones.
