Christian Leaders Urge Trump Administration to Protect Afghan Christians Facing Deportation
In the wake of increasing concerns about the safety of Afghan Christians, a coalition of over a dozen Christian leaders has reached out to President Donald Trump and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Their appeal is clear: safeguard Afghan Christian refugees from deportation to a land where their faith could endanger their lives.
The letter, made public on Friday, acknowledges the current administration’s dedication to international religious freedom. It urges the continuation of this commitment by ensuring Afghan Christians, one of the world’s most threatened religious minorities, are not sent back to potential persecution.
Myal Greene from World Relief spearheaded the initiative, which also includes signatures from prominent figures such as Brent Leatherwood of the Southern Baptist Convention, Ryan Brown of Open Doors US, and Travis Weber from the Family Research Council.
Others who endorsed the letter include Brian Orme from Global Christian Relief and Mark Tooley of the Institute on Religion & Democracy. They highlighted that Afghanistan remains perilous for Christians, stating, “Conversion from Islam is considered apostasy under Taliban rule and is punishable by imprisonment or execution.”
Reports have surfaced indicating that Afghan Christians in the United States, following the 2021 U.S. military withdrawal and subsequent Taliban control, now face the looming threat of forced repatriation. The letter emphasizes the dire situation: “One group of Afghan Christians has received notice that they had only one week to self-deport, despite the fact that the U.S. asylum process often takes years to complete.”
The leaders argue that demanding such swift self-deportation effectively denies these refugees the chance to have their asylum claims fairly assessed, putting their lives in immediate danger. “Forcing them to return under such circumstances would be a tragedy in the making and a blight on America’s record of defending persecuted Christians,” they stated.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security signaled the potential end of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Afghans in the country, opening the door for deportations to commence in May. TPS was initially granted to Afghan nationals fleeing their homeland in 2022.
Travis Weber from the FRC cautioned the Trump administration against discarding essential protections amid immigration reforms. He remarked, “Keeping a pathway for persecuted Christians to receive refugee or asylum status is an important part of the United States’ effort to promote religious freedom.”
According to reports, nearly two dozen Afghan Christians attending the Church of the Apostles in Raleigh, North Carolina, were recently informed they have a week to leave the country. However, Evangelical leader Franklin Graham emphasized ongoing discussions at the highest levels in Washington to address the issue, noting the possibility of deadline extensions for case reviews.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has refrained from commenting on specific cases but clarified that “CBP has issued notices terminating parole for individuals who do not have lawful status to remain.” This process excludes those paroled under programs like Uniting for Ukraine and Operation Allies Welcome.
Church members in Raleigh have been vocal, urging the Trump administration to reconsider the deportation orders for Afghan Christians. Julie Tisdale, a seminary student, highlighted the challenges these refugees have faced, including torture for their faith, and asserted that their entry into the U.S. was legal and rigorous.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
