Lawmakers Urge Halt to Afghan Refugee Deportations

Sixty-six members of Congress have demanded an immediate stop to deporting Afghan refugees, warning of danger if they are returned.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a simplified domed capitol building in deep red and cream, standing alone against an open field. — Sixty-six members of Congress, mostly Democrats, urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to immediately halt Afghan refugee deportations. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should the U.S. halt deportations of Afghan refugees who may face danger at home?

Sixty-six members of Congress, predominantly Democrats, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas calling for an immediate halt to the deportation of Afghan refugees. The letter warns that returning asylum applicants to Afghanistan could jeopardize their lives.

Why it matters

Lawmakers argue that Afghan refugees, particularly those who served alongside U.S. forces, face particular peril if sent back. The letter also raises the possibility of forced deportation of a group of Iranian nationals, adding a second population to the dispute.

Sixty-six members of Congress signed the letter, which cites a potential dedicated flight carrying more than 150 Afghan refugees and Iranian nationals from El Paso, Texas. The Department of Homeland Security has not officially responded to the reported deportation plans.

The players

Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio serves as U.S. Secretary of State, overseeing American diplomacy and foreign relations, including matters involving Afghanistan.

Alejandro Mayorkas

Alejandro Mayorkas serves as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, leading the department responsible for immigration enforcement and deportation operations.

AfghanEvac

AfghanEvac is an advocacy organization that works to relocate Afghans who supported U.S. forces and remain at risk in Afghanistan.

The details

The letter, sent November 2, 2026, was addressed to Rubio and Mayorkas and demands an immediate halt to Afghan deportations. The advocacy group AfghanEvac and a refugee deportation monitoring agency both reported that individuals may be transferred via a dedicated flight from El Paso, Texas.

- November 2, 2026: Congress members send letter to Rubio and Mayorkas demanding a halt to Afghan refugee deportations.

Political Context

The letter follows the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the evacuation of Afghan allies who worked alongside American forces. Lawmakers now question whether those who were later admitted as asylum applicants can be safely returned to Afghanistan.

Afghan asylum applicants and their families face uncertainty about whether they can remain in the United States or be returned to Afghanistan. Those who served alongside U.S. forces may be particularly affected by any decision to proceed with deportation flights.

The takeaway

Policy decisions on deporting Afghan asylum applicants carry life-or-death stakes for people who may face persecution upon return, making the outcome of this congressional pressure worth watching closely.