Concerns Grow as Afghan Christians Face Deportation Under Trump Administration
As the Trump administration takes steps to terminate protections for thousands of Afghan individuals, faith leaders are voicing alarms. They worry particularly for Christian converts who could face severe persecution from the Taliban.
Pastor Behanam Rasorli, known as Pastor Ben, heads the Oklahoma Holasan Church in Oklahoma City, a community formed mainly of Afghan Christian refugees. He shared, in a recent discussion, the grave threats his congregation encounters.
“If any of these Afghan Christians are sent back to Afghanistan, the first thing they can expect is that their husbands will be killed,” he said. “If that’s not the case, they might end up in prison, enduring daily torment.”
The Department of Homeland Security has announced the end of the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) for individuals from Afghanistan, which means that over 9,000 people could be forced back to Taliban-controlled areas.
Secretary Christie Noem stated that the change is aimed at enhancing security and stabilizing the economy. “This administration is returning TPS to what it was meant to be,” she explained. “We’ve evaluated Afghanistan with our partners and concluded it no longer meets TPS criteria.”
TPS for Afghans will expire on May 20, with the program fully closing by July 12. Noem emphasized that ending this designation is part of a broader initiative to eliminate fraud and threats to national security within the immigration system.
After the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, TPS was intended to provide temporary relief for foreigners from nations experiencing urgent crises, with President Biden initially granting TPS to Afghanistan.
Members of Pastor Ben’s congregation, who have made perilous journeys to the U.S., find themselves at high risk. He recounted one group’s harrowing trip from Brazil to Mexico, which included a 76-year-old woman and a 7-month-old baby.
“They went without food for days and were parched for weeks,” he recalled. “Despite everything, they persevered and arrived in the U.S. legally. Now, we hear that their parole is being revoked, and they haven’t even received work permits.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House about Pastor Ben’s fears and received a response highlighting the chaotic nature of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. A spokesperson mentioned the Biden administration’s actions, which allowed multiple Afghans entry into the U.S., were aimed at urgent humanitarian concerns.
Advocacy groups working for the rights of persecuted minorities have initiated petitions to designate Afghanistan as a special concern, emphasizing the persecution faced by Christians. This includes reports of arrests at borders, torture, and enforcement of laws that criminalize their beliefs.
Rev. Ben calls on fellow Christians to support their persecuted counterparts. “They need us to raise our voices for them,” he urged. “We enjoy freedoms they don’t have. They only ask that the church stands with them.”
He also addressed President Trump directly: “I support your plan to deport criminals, but we must recognize that those you want to send back are not criminals.” He urged for compassion, stating, “Let’s keep the American dream alive for everyone.”
