The Trump administration has formally ended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans, stating that conditions in Afghanistan under Taliban rule no longer warrant such protections. This announcement came from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Monday, marking a shift from the protections initially extended during the turbulent withdrawal of US forces.
TPS is typically implemented to prevent the deportation of individuals when their home country faces unsafe conditions, like civil unrest. DHS Executive Director Kristi Noem indicated that a thorough review with interagency partners revealed Afghanistan no longer meets the criteria for TPS status. She mentioned that security has improved and that the country’s economy is stabilizing, which, I think, is a rather bold claim considering the ongoing issues.
Since the US left in 2021, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated significantly. Recently, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) criticized the deportations from neighboring countries back to Afghanistan, arguing that the escalating humanitarian crisis has been complicated by the influx of returnees.
The UNHCR highlighted that these mass returns are putting immense pressure on already strained resources, making survival increasingly challenging for many. A 2023 State Department report pointed out alarming increases in gender-based violence and a significant decline in women’s rights, noting that there are more educational and employment restrictions than ever before.
Moreover, the report raised concerns about the recruitment tactics of ISIS-K targeting religious minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, activists, and even child soldiers. Food insecurity is also a pressing issue affecting the population.
The Afghan-American Foundation has condemned this decision, viewing it as a betrayal of those who supported the US during its two-decade presence in Afghanistan. They argue that the protection offered to Afghan allies should be permanent, emphasizing that the relationships built with American forces are far from temporary.
Critics contend that by terminating TPS, the current administration is repeating the mistakes of its predecessor. Of the nearly 80,000 Afghans who resettled in the US following the fall of Kabul, many have secured asylum or special immigration visas. However, approximately 14,600 individuals still rely on TPS for protection.
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