A number of former US military personnel and Afghans who worked alongside American forces gathered near the US Capitol in Washington, calling on lawmakers to prevent the forced deportation of thousands of Afghan migrants.
According to a report by Scripps News, approximately 150 people took part in the demonstration. Protesters stressed that the US government must take action to ensure the safety of Afghans living in the country and allow them to remain in the United States.
Sean VanDiver, president of the AfghanEvac coalition, said the rally aimed to support Afghans who had served alongside US forces. He urged Congress to pass legislation granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Afghan nationals, protecting thousands of Afghan migrants from forced deportation.
Referring to America’s responsibility towards its Afghan allies, VanDiver said the country’s commitments must be honoured in practice, not merely in words. A former US service member who served in Iraq and Afghanistan also said he would not allow the United States to abandon its Afghan allies.
Several Afghan migrants also attended the demonstration, warning that returning them to Afghanistan could expose them to the risk of detention and the loss of their fundamental rights. Florence Pouya, one of the Afghan participants, described the deportation of migrants as catastrophic, warning that some people could be forced to live in hiding to protect themselves.
Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, is a US immigration programme that allows nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, insecurity or natural disasters to remain temporarily in the United States until it is safe for them to return. In addition to protection from deportation, the programme also allows eligible individuals to obtain work authorisation.
According to Scripps News, US President Donald Trump decided in May 2025 to terminate this protection for Afghan nationals, with the decision taking effect in July of the same year.
Writer:Roya Stanikzai
