Washington, D.C. [US], July 12 (ANI): A U.S. federal court has rejected a request to delay the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan nationals, a decision that puts thousands at risk of deportation and loss of work authorization, Khaama Press reported.
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang, sitting in Maryland, ruled on July 10 that Afghan TPS holders will not be allowed to retain their legal status while a broader legal challenge continues in court. As a result, the protections currently extended to thousands of Afghans in the U.S. are set to expire on July 14, 2025.
“This ruling affects approximately 11,700 Afghan migrants who were granted TPS after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, rendering return to the country unsafe,” Khaama Press noted.
Immigrant rights organizations have criticized the Biden administration’s decision to end TPS for Afghan nationals, calling it “unfair and politically motivated.” Advocates argue that the administration is ignoring grave human rights concerns in Afghanistan, particularly the persecution of women, girls, and other vulnerable communities.
Human rights defenders have warned that forced returns could have dire consequences.
“Sending Afghans—especially women and girls—back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is dangerous,” one rights group stated.
Both Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have documented severe gender-based repression under the Taliban, with Khaama Press describing the treatment of women as “gender apartheid.” Widespread restrictions on freedom, education, and employment for women remain in place, exacerbating concerns about deportations.
Legal experts and human rights activists are calling for swift action from the U.S. government and Congress, urging passage of legislative measures such as the Afghan Adjustment Act or expansion of humanitarian programs to protect Afghan TPS holders.
Without intervention, thousands of Afghans face the risk of forced deportation to a country where they may experience violence, repression, and denial of basic rights, Khaama Press added.
(ANI)
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