The Trump administration has ended the protected status of thousands of Afghans who entered the United States after a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden administration in 2021.
The US Department of Homeland Security has no plans to update the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) for Afghans that lasts six to 18 months and apply to people in war-torn countries.
Immigrants have TPS protection and have access to work permits.
The US military evacuated more than 82,000 Afghans from the country when the US retreated and the Taliban took over in 2021.
Taliban leaders say “not necessary” for laws from the West of Afghanistan: “We create our own laws.”
Afghan evacuees in Massachusetts apartments in 2022 (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)
Thousands of Cameroonians are also expected to lose their positions.
DHS spokesman Tricia Mclaughlin told Reuters that DHS Executive Director Kristi Noem has determined that the situation in Afghanistan and Cameroonians do not meet the criteria for updating TPS protections.
“The secretary has terminated Afghanistan’s TPS as he determined that Afghanistan no longer continues to meet the statutory requirements of the TPS designation,” McLaughlin said in a statement.
Sean Vandriver, serving in the military and president of #afghanevac, opposed the administration’s assessment of Afghanistan.
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The Afghans took a plane to Kabul, Afghanistan on September 9, 2021, following a massive departure for people after we and foreign troops retreated. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
“The situation on the ground has not improved. They’re getting worse,” he told NPR. “The Afghans invited here lived here, and now they say it’s not a problem. It’s cruel, chaotic and undermines everything the US claims they’re claiming when they promised not to leave their allies behind.”
More than 14,000 Afghans and 7,000 Cameroonians are expected to lose TPS protections.
The Biden administration updated TPS protections for Afghans in 2023.
Afghanistan’s TPS protection will end in May, and Cameroon’s protection will end in June. At the time, foreigners were eligible for deportation.
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DHS secretary Kristi Noem has determined that the situation in Afghanistan and Cameroon does not meet the criteria for renewing TPS protections. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Fox News Digital has contacted DPS and the White House for comment.
Last month, a judge delayed the Trump administration’s efforts to end TPS protections for Venezuelans.
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Afghanistan and Venezuela are listed as “Level 4: Not Traveling” by the US State Department due to risks of terrorism, illegal detention, civil unrest and inducement.
Cameroon is listed as “Level 2: Increased Movement Caution” due to the risk of terrorism, trickery and armed violence.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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