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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is reportedly hoping to send Afghan refugees to Congo — or back to the country they fled.
What is happening? According to the New York TimesMore than 1,100 Afghan refugees who are currently in Qatar at a former US military base and who were promised a chance to come to the US may soon be given a choice between moving to the Democratic Republic of Congo and returning to Afghanistan.
No choice is needed: Congo is currently facing a massive refugee crisis and ongoing fighting with a rebel military group, and the refugees have no ties to the country. But in Afghanistan, their lives would be in immediate danger from the Taliban government of that country.
Who are the refugees? Most of the 1,100 Afghans now stranded in Qatar helped the United States during nearly two decades of war as interpreters working with the American military or were once members of Afghan special forces. Some, The Times reportsare family members of US military personnel, and more than 400 are children.
Many have also already been vetted and approved to immigrate to the United States, according to NBC.
What is the context? The United States took in about 200,000 Afghan refugees during and after a violent withdrawal from the country in August 2021, but the Trump administration ended the visa process for all Afghans last year after two National Guardsmen in Washington, DC, were shot by an Afghan citizen who was admitted to the United States in 2021.
What? what’s next This is not yet finalized, it is only being discussed by the Trump administration and Congolese officials. But it would be consistent with the Trump administration’s well-worn pattern of trying to send refugees and other immigrants wherever they can, regardless of safety or other ethical concerns. Earlier this month, Congo agreed to receive immigrants from third countries expelled by the United States, and at least 15 people they were sent there last week.
And so, it’s time to leave…
Hello readers, happy Earth day! If you’re looking for practical ways to help the planet today, my colleagues at Future Perfect put together several charity suggestions. here.
If you’re just ready to leave, I hope you’ll be able to do so by getting outside and enjoying a little nature this evening. Thanks for reading, and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!
