U.S. Termination of Afghan TPS Puts Thousands at Risk, Especially Women and Girls

The Trump administration’s decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans in the United States, effective July 14, will leave over 11,000 individuals facing immediate detention and deportation. This move comes at a time when Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, is recognized as a profoundly perilous and unjust surroundings, with women and girls facing notably severe vulnerabilities.

The Perilous Reality for Afghans Returning Home

TPS is a vital designation that allows individuals from countries deemed temporarily unsafe by the U.S. government to remain and work legally in the United States. The termination of this protection for Afghans is particularly concerning given the documented human rights abuses occurring within Afghanistan.

Gender Persecution and Systemic Discrimination

The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently issued arrest warrants for two senior Taliban leaders, citing their systematic violations of women’s rights. Human Rights Watch has previously concluded that taliban authorities are committing the crime against humanity of gender persecution against Afghan women and girls. This designation underscores the extreme peril Afghan women and girls will face if deported back to afghanistan.

Under the Taliban, who regained control following the U.S.withdrawal in 2021, Afghan women and girls are systematically denied basic rights. They are barred from attending secondary school and university, face severe employment restrictions, have limited access to healthcare, and are subjected to strictly curtailed access to public spaces.Both Afghan women and United Nations officials have described their situation as “gender apartheid,” highlighting the pervasive and systematic nature of the discrimination.

TPS serves as a crucial mechanism for individuals facing generalized threats to their safety. For Afghan women, who may struggle to gather documentation for individualized asylum claims, TPS provides essential protection against the harsh realities of life under the Taliban.

the Devastating impact on families

The termination of TPS also raises grave concerns about family separation. Many Afghans with TPS have children who are U.S. citizens. The decision forces parents into an impossible choice: abandon their children in the U.S. or take them to live under the oppressive Taliban regime. Such a situation risks separating families and exposing vulnerable children to dangerous and unjust circumstances.

A Call for Reinstatement

The U.S. government must acknowledge the dire conditions awaiting Afghans, particularly women and girls, if they are deported.Reinstating TPS is a critical step to prevent thousands of individuals from confronting unimaginable risks. The termination of these protections will have devastating consequences, undermining the safety and well-being of a vulnerable population.