American media reports indicate that in April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent emails to over 200 Afghan refugees residing in Iowa, instructing them to leave the country immediately.
According to Axios, the emails, sent by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, begin with the statement, "It is time to leave the United States." The messages warned that failure to leave voluntarily would result in detention, revocation of work permits, and potential legal action. One of the emails accessed by Axios concludes with the message, "Do not attempt to remain in the United States, the federal government will find you."
These warnings were directed at refugees who entered the U.S. legally under humanitarian programs or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) after the U.S. forces withdrew from Afghanistan and Kabul fell in 2021.
The Afghan Allies in Iowa organization, led by Zabihullah Safi, has stated that many of the recipients of these emails are former soldiers who fought alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan, putting them at risk of retaliation by the Taliban
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. Safi emphasized that these individuals have become active members of the community in Iowa, working, paying taxes, and having their children enrolled in schools and universities.
According to Axios, this action is part of a broader federal policy to end the temporary humanitarian parole status granted to Afghan refugees in 2021 and 2022. More than 900 such refugees were granted this status in Iowa.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed this development in a statement to Axios, asserting, "The presence of foreign nationals in the United States is a privilege, not a right. We act in the interests of the country and enforce the law."
These developments reflect the ongoing challenges faced by Afghan refugees in the U.S. and the complexities of immigration policy, as well as the broader debate over humanitarian aid
and asylum policies. As these issues unfold, many Afghan refugees in the U.S. remain in limbo, caught between their past sacrifices and uncertain futures.