Thousands of Afghan refugees who risked their lives to support U.S. missions are now at risk of deportation. In an unsurprising installment in a long saga of broken promises, the Trump Administration ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. The TPS designation expired May 20 and will fully terminate on July 14.
Meanwhile, white South Africans are being quietly fast-tracked to the U.S.
What is TPS?
Temporary Protected Status (or TPS) is given to individuals from designated countries who are unable to return home safely. Countries may be designated for TPS for a few reasons, including armed conflict or environmental disasters. TPS is a humanitarian safeguard, but it is beneficial for all Americans. TPS holders contribute billions to the economy, and many of them are essential workers.
Once TPS ends, people revert to their previous immigration status. If they didn’t have any other lawful status, they become undocumented. Afghan refugees have had to seek asylum, green cards, or other pathways to legal permanent status. These cases can take years, and those who have not been approved are now at risk of removal.
Why Was Afghanistan Designated?
After the American military pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021, thousands of Afghan refugees moved into the U.S. Many of them had either worked directly with the U.S. or worked for the U.S.-supported Afghan government and were now in danger of being imprisoned, tortured, or killed by the Taliban.
The Administration says Afghanistan is now “safe,” meaning TPS no longer applies. This is an absurd claim. The State Department still lists Afghanistan under the highest possible travel advisory. That’s the same warning used for active war zones. But apparently, it’s safe enough to deport people to.
Meanwhile, people who worked shoulder to shoulder with American troops, including interpreters, fixers, and contractors, are now being told to go back to a country where they could be tortured or killed. This move is a broken promise to people who put their lives on the line for U.S. foreign policy.
What’s Happening in South Africa?
While Afghan refugees face deportation, something very different is happening with South African refugees.
Some people, including Donald Trump and Elon Musk, have pushed of a “white genocide” in post-Apartheid South Africa. They claim that white farmers in particular are being murdered. These claims are unsubstantiated; they were dismissed in court and there is no evidence that white farmers are murdered at higher rates than other farmers in the country. Outside of an outspoken right-wing minority, white South Africans themselves have already disputed claims of white victimhood.
Normally, refugee resettlement can take months or even years, but dozens of white South African refugees have already landed in the U.S. It’s not clear how many others are on the way. Trump’s initial announcement only referred to Afrikaners, despite them not being the only ethnic minority in the country.
Temporary Protected Status is meant to be temporary. Trump said the U.S. has “essentially extended citizenship” to South African refugees, which is wildly generous shift tone compared to how he’s historically spoken about refugees. This double standard seems blatantly racially motivated.
Conclusion
The current Administration claims that Afghanistan is safe to return to, where white Americans visit on vacation, is so dangerous for white people that we need to fast-track their resettlement. Yet, the State Department still lists Afghanistan under a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory, while South Africa is only under a “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution” advisory.
At McEntee Law Group, we’re proud to say that we’ve filed many pro bono humanitarian parole cases for those fleeing Afghanistan. The United States has a legal and moral obligation to protect those we pledged to stand by. We told Afghan allies they could count on us. Deporting them now sends a message to the entire world that our promises and allegiance mean nothing.
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