U.S. immigration authorities have deported at least 104 Afghan nationals to Afghanistan, according to an analysis of federal removal data covering October 2022 to March 2026. These deportations took place after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, at a time when Afghanistan remains under Taliban control, with documented restrictions on rights and ongoing concerns over reprisals against returnees. These cases are part of a broader pattern of removals involving Afghan nationals in the United States. KabulNow’s analysis of administrative removal data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, published by the Deportation Data Project, shows that 1,156 Afghans were deported during this period. Deportations increased sharply from 240 cases in 2023 to 478 in 2024. In 2025, removals remained high at 402 cases.
The increase in deportations comes amid a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy. Following the November 26 shooting of two National Guard members near the White House, the U.S. administration imposed new restrictions on immigration. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services halted the processing of asylum and immigration applications, including for Afghan nationals, and began reviewing cases from a group of countries it classified as high risk. The Department of Homeland Security also announced a wider review of asylum decisions and immigration status, citing national security concerns.
The data show that most Afghans were stopped at or near the U.S. border and removed shortly after. U.S. Customs and Border Protection carried out most arrests, and Border Patrol programs handled most removals. Nearly 90 percent of cases fall under “inadmissibility,” meaning individuals were denied entry and deported without entering full immigration court proceedings.
In most cases, the process was administrative and fast. Around 70 percent of Afghans were removed under administrative final orders, while others were deported before their cases reached a hearing or while still under review. This indicates that many Afghan nationals had limited opportunity to challenge their removal before an immigration judge.
Criminal history played almost no role in these deportations. The data show that 97 percent of Afghans were classified as immigration violators with no criminal convictions or pending charges. Only a small number were recorded as having committed crimes. In nearly all cases, there was no indication of a security threat.
The same pattern appears among those deported to Afghanistan. Of the 104 individuals returned, 87 were classified as “other immigration violators,” meaning they had no criminal convictions. Only 14 had been convicted of a crime, and three had pending charges. Most, 92 individuals, had received final removal orders, indicating that their cases had moved through the immigration system. However, 12 were deported without a final order, raising concerns about possible gaps in due process.
Direct deportation to Afghanistan represents only part of the removal process. The data show that many Afghans were instead removed to third countries, particularly Canada. More than 80 percent of Afghan removals were carried out to Canada, often through land border transfers rather than direct flights.
Removal to a third country does not necessarily ensure protection. According to Canada’s immigration removal statistics, 393 Afghan nationals were deported from Canada in 2023. This suggests that some Afghans transferred from the United States to Canada may later face removal again, including possible return to Afghanistan.
Taken together, the data point to a system in which Afghan nationals are not only deported to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan but may also be routed through other countries where their legal status remains uncertain. In some cases, deportation appears to take place in stages rather than as a single, final outcome.
While U.S. authorities describe these removals as routine immigration enforcement, the destination remains central to understanding their impact. For Afghan nationals, deportation, whether direct or indirect, can ultimately mean return to a country where safety, rights, and future prospects remain uncertain.
