Afghan Nationals Face Deportation Threat as Lawmakers Seek Protection

Democratic lawmakers are pushing to reinstate deportation protections for Afghan nationals in the US through a discharge petition filed in the House of Representatives. The move comes after Congress returned to Washington, and the petition aims to bypass Republican leaders.

Reps. Crow and Liccardo introduced the petition, which needs 218 signatures from members of the House to proceed with legislation that would grant Afghans protection from deportation until mid-2029. This measure is part of a broader effort to provide relief to individuals who face danger in their home countries.

The Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation allows certain nationals to stay in the US for up to 18 months if their countries are deemed unsafe, and the status can be extended if necessary. The Trump administration terminated the TPS designation for Afghanistan in May 2025, reversing a decision made by President Biden's administration in 2022.

The move to block the deportation of Afghan immigrants and asylum-seekers was recently stayed by a federal judge, who temporarily blocked their removal to Pakistan. To succeed with their discharge petition, Crow and Liccardo will need to gather support from all current House Democrats and secure signatures from several Republicans.

The process of collecting signatures for the discharge petition is underway, following its introduction on October 1st by Crow and Liccardo. This move allows them to start gathering support from their fellow lawmakers as they work towards submitting the petition.

Their efforts are driven by a sense of responsibility towards Afghan partners who risked their lives alongside American servicemembers in combat zones like Iraq and Afghanistan. These individuals were promised protection, but now face the threat of deportation back into the hands of the Taliban forces they helped to fight against.

The legislation in question, the Afghanistan TPS Act, has already gained traction with four Republican co-sponsors who have pledged their support for granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Afghans until July 2029. This would require a majority vote on the House floor, making it a crucial step towards passing the bill.

The bill also has backing from Rep. Kevin Kiley, a former Republican who is now an independent from California, adding another voice to the growing list of supporters for this legislation aimed at protecting Afghan nationals living in the United States.

The bill to restore deportation protections for Afghan nationals living in the US has gained significant momentum, with over 50 organizations backing it, including prominent groups such as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Amnesty International USA.

This latest development is part of a growing trend in Congress, where discharge petitions have been successfully used by small groups of Republicans joining forces with Democrats to bring measures to the floor. A notable example from earlier this year was the reinstatement of temporary protection for Haitian immigrants, which passed 224-204 after 10 Republicans defected from their party leadership.

The successful passage of such bills has not gone unnoticed by lawmakers, who are now looking to replicate this success with their own legislation. Other discharge petitions that have recently gained traction include votes on aid to Ukraine, extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, and the Epstein Files Transparency Act put forth by Rep. and Rep. Ro Khanna.

With the House scheduled to be in session for the next two weeks before a Thanksgiving recess, lawmakers are likely to continue their efforts to push through this legislation, which has garnered significant support from both parties.