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Welcome to The Logoff: The Trump administration is reportedly hoping to ship Afghan refugees to Congo — or again to the nation they fled from.
What’s taking place? In response to a New York Occasions scoop, greater than 1,100 Afghan refugees who’re at present in Qatar at a former US army base and who had been promised an opportunity to come back to the US could quickly be supplied a selection between relocation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and returning to Afghanistan.
Neither possibility is fascinating: Congo is at present dealing with a critical refugee disaster and ongoing preventing with a insurgent paramilitary group, and the refugees don’t have any ties to the nation. However in Afghanistan, their lives can be in fast hazard from the nation’s Taliban authorities.
Who’re the refugees? Lots of the 1,100 Afghans now caught in limbo in Qatar aided the US over practically twenty years of conflict as interpreters working with US troops or served as members of the Afghan particular forces. Some, the Occasions reviews, are members of the family of American troopers, and greater than 400 are youngsters.
Most have additionally already been screened and accepted to maneuver to the US, based on NBC.
What’s the context? The US took in practically 200,000 Afghan refugees throughout and after its chaotic withdrawal from the nation in August 2021, however the Trump administration ended visa processing for all Afghans final 12 months after two Nationwide Guard members in Washington, DC, had been shot by an Afghan nationwide who was admitted to the US in 2021.
What comes subsequent? This isn’t but a achieved deal, solely underneath dialogue by the Trump administration and Congolese officers. However it might match a well-worn sample of the Trump administration attempting to ship refugees and different immigrants wherever they’ll, no matter security or different moral considerations. Earlier this month, Congo agreed to obtain immigrants from third international locations deported by the US, and at the least 15 individuals had been despatched there final week.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
Hello readers, pleased Earth Day! When you’re searching for some actionable methods to assist the planet immediately, my colleagues over at Future Excellent pulled collectively some charity suggestions right here.
When you’re simply able to sign off, I hope you’re in a position to do it by getting outdoors and having fun with nature somewhat bit this night. Thanks for studying, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
