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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 occurring? In keeping with a New York Occasions scoop, greater than 1,100 Afghan refugees who’re presently in Qatar at a former US army base and who have been promised an opportunity to come back to the US could quickly be provided a alternative between relocation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and returning to Afghanistan.
Neither possibility is fascinating: Congo is presently going through a severe refugee disaster and ongoing preventing with a insurgent paramilitary group, and the refugees haven’t any ties to the nation. However in Afghanistan, their lives could be in speedy 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 20 years of battle as interpreters working with US troops or served as members of the Afghan particular forces. Some, the Occasions stories, are members of the family of American troopers, and greater than 400 are kids.
Most have additionally already been screened and authorized to maneuver to the US, in line with 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, have been shot by an Afghan nationwide who was admitted to the US in 2021.
What comes subsequent? This isn’t but a finished deal, solely beneath dialogue by the Trump administration and Congolese officers. However it will match a well-worn sample of the Trump administration attempting to ship refugees and different immigrants anyplace they will, no matter security or different moral considerations. Earlier this month, Congo agreed to obtain immigrants from third nations deported by the US, and no less than 15 folks have been despatched there final week.
And with that, it’s time to log out…
Hello readers, completely happy Earth Day! In the event you’re on the lookout for some actionable methods to assist the planet at this time, my colleagues over at Future Good pulled collectively some charity suggestions right here.
In the event you’re simply able to log out, I hope you’re in a position to do it by getting exterior and having fun with nature slightly bit this night. Thanks for studying, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
