Lawmakers Seek Bipartisan Support to Protect Afghan Refugees Amid Deportation Dispute

A group of US legislators is actively seeking bipartisan support for a bill designed to provide longer-term protection for thousands of Afghans residing in the United States. This legislative push comes as authorities prepare to deport 150 Afghan nationals to their homeland via Pakistan, a plan that has sparked significant concern regarding the safety of those being removed and has already triggered a series of court interventions to delay the departure.

With Democrats set to take control of the House of Representatives in January, they will have the ability to force a vote on the measure during the new congressional term. However, supporters of the bill, known as the Afghanistan TPS Act, are working to secure Republican backing now due to the perceived urgency of the situation. Several dozen meetings have been held this week in Washington to build that coalition before the current session ends.

Democratic Congressman Scott Peters emphasized the need for swift action, stating that the goal is to pass the legislation quickly enough to create pressure to stop the planned flights. He noted that his team is engaging with Republicans who appear supportive of the proposal. The bill was drafted by Democratic Congressman Jason Crow, a US military veteran who served in Afghanistan. Crow argued that the US made a promise to look after its Afghan partners after more than two decades of conflict, describing the effort as both a moral and national security imperative.

The controversy stems from the recent revocation of Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Afghans by US authorities last May. At the time, then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem cited an improved security situation and a stabilizing economy in Afghanistan as reasons for the decision. Her successor, Markwayne Mullin, has since reiterated that TPS is not intended to be a permanent status. He stated that individuals had the opportunity to change their status while in the US and must now return to a country that will accept them or their country of origin.

The Department of Homeland Security estimated that approximately 11,700 Afghan nationals held TPS status last year. The new legislation aims to restore this status for those eligible and extend it to other Afghans, including some of the individuals on the upcoming deportation list. Supporters of the bill, including veterans of the 20-year war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, have been prominent in the advocacy efforts this week.

The Afghan community in the US is deeply concerned about the deportations. Zarif Aminyar, an Afghan-born business executive and activist, expressed the fear felt by families in the Sacramento, California area, which is home to one of the largest Afghan diasporas in the country. He noted that communities are afraid that the nation they sought for safety is no longer hearing their humanity.

Legal challenges have already delayed the deportation process. A court ruling in early November granted a temporary restraining order, which was later extended indefinitely by Judge Victor Marrero. The judge stated that the complaint adequately alleged that the Afghan nationals face a likelihood of irreparable harm if deported and turned over to the Taliban in Pakistan. However, this specific ruling only applies to five individuals represented by the non-governmental organization Project Rousseau.

Shawn VanDiver, head of the advocacy group AfghanEvac, said that a deportation flight for 150 people is rescheduled for November 16. He noted that all individuals on the list have final orders of removal. The Department of Homeland Security declined to confirm the specific flight schedule, citing operational security and the safety of its officers. A DHS spokesman also highlighted the availability of a voluntary deportation program that offers a $3,000 check and a free flight home.

To force a House vote, supporters of the legislation require 218 signatures on a discharge petition. This number requires the backing of at least four lawmakers beyond the chamber's 214 Democrats. Outgoing Republican Congressmen Don Bacon and Brian K. Fitzpatrick are among those supporting the measure. Bacon described the act as providing temporary protection and work authorization while requiring background checks, emphasizing that it is not a permanent immigration status.

If the bill clears both the House and the Senate, it will face the question of whether President Donald Trump will sign it into law. Peters, who signed an open letter calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mullin to stop the flight, suggested that Trump has historically cooperated with the political signal of passed bills even when he has not signed them. He expressed hope that any method to stop the flights would be a positive outcome.