Human Rights | US plans to deport more than 150 detained Afghan migrants via Pakistan as early as November 2, The New York Times reports, citing three US officials

ACW | October 31, 2026 — The Trump administration plans to deport more than 150 detained Afghans to Afghanistan via Pakistan as early as Monday, November 2, The New York Times reported, citing three US officials.

Some of the Afghans are being held in Louisiana, according to Afghanistan International and Khaama Press, which carried the Times report. ACW has not seen the full Times article and relies on those two outlets for these details.

Bloomberg Law reported on October 26, citing a federal official, lawyers and advocacy groups, that Afghans in immigration detention had been told they could be sent to Pakistan. The advocacy group AfghanEvac said they include relatives of Afghans who worked with the US military.

AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver told Reuters that some are brothers and sons of men who served alongside US forces and that the Taliban have reason to target their families, Hasht-e Subh reported. He urged Congress to grant Afghans in the US Temporary Protected Status.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not comment on prospective removal operations, schedules, destinations or individual cases, Khaama Press reported. No response from the Taliban caretaker government or Pakistan's government appeared in published reports.

Background: AfghanEvac has logged at least 30 reports from 15 detention facilities in 11 US states since October 14, according to Khaama Press. Germany deported 40 Afghan men to Kabul on October 28; read ACW's report.

Why it matters: Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention bars returning a refugee to a place where their life or freedom would be threatened. AfghanEvac has asked that the flight's destination be disclosed and that detainees be allowed to raise fears of persecution or torture.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Bloomberg Law — US makes plans to deport Afghans, families of allies to Pakistan; Afghanistan International — report citing The New York Times; Khaama Press — Afghan deportation flight could leave Nov. 2; Hasht-e Subh — report citing Reuters

Photo: US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)