Trump admin urged to end Afghan Christian deportations, fix Biden-era mistake
In a recent turn of events during Holy Week, Christian leaders across the United States are urging President Donald Trump to step in and prevent the deportation of Afghan Christians who are facing almost certain persecution under the Taliban. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on April 10 that it would be terminating humanitarian parole for Afghan nationals, resulting in thousands being ordered to leave the country within days.
While initial reports referred to the change as the end of temporary protected status (TPS), it has since been clarified that the affected individuals were actually under humanitarian parole. This policy shift impacts approximately 9,000 Afghans who were living legally in the U.S. while awaiting special immigrant visas (SIV) or asylum adjudication. Among them are hundreds of Christians who converted after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and now face grave danger under Taliban rule.
A coalition memo obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital highlights the concerns surrounding the potential persecution that these Afghan Christians could face upon their return to Afghanistan. The memo specifically mentions a group of hundreds of Christians who are believed to be at immediate risk of torture or death. The coalition is calling for a 90-day pause on deportations to allow for legal pathways or protections to be put in place.
One individual listed in the coalition’s proposal, using the pseudonym “Nashinas,” is an Afghan Christian who was tortured by the Taliban in 2021, resettled in North Carolina, and is actively involved in his local church. Despite having filed for asylum, he received a notice from DHS ordering his departure from the country.
The timing of the parole termination during Holy Week has galvanized Christian leaders both in the U.S. and around the world. The Enduring Hope Alliance (EHA), a coalition formed in response to the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, has been instrumental in rescuing and resettling over a thousand Christian converts and allies of the U.S. military. The EHA is urging the Trump administration to show compassion and leadership by protecting the lives of those at risk.
Faith leaders argue that this is an opportunity for the Trump administration to rectify one of the most distressing outcomes of the Biden-era decision to withdraw from Afghanistan. Rev. Franklin Graham, the president of Samaritan’s Purse, believes that there may now be more time to resolve the crisis, despite Afghan Christians receiving deportation notices giving them only seven days to leave the country.
Advocates stress that deporting these individuals would not only violate U.S. values but also international law, which prohibits returning people to countries where they face likely torture or death. President Trump has the chance to correct a significant error left by the chaotic withdrawal in 2021 and protect those who are in real danger due to their faith.
As Christians worldwide reflect on the sacrifice of Christ during Good Friday, the plea to President Trump is to prevent these individuals from facing their own crucifixion by sending them back to a country where their lives are at risk. The hope is that the administration will take a compassionate and decisive stand to ensure the safety and well-being of Afghan Christians facing persecution under the Taliban.
