Afghans who backed Trump feel abandoned as the administration ends refugee protections amid Taliban rule.

Supporters Voice Alarm Over Taliban Threats

Members of the “Afghans for Trump” movement are expressing dismay after the Trump administration announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghan refugees residing in the United States. The decision, issued by the Department of Homeland Security, affects more than 9,000 individuals and is set to take full effect by July 12, with protections expiring on May 20.

Zoubair Sangi, founder of the group formed after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, said the decision feels like a betrayal. “The reality is that Afghanistan is not safe,” he said. “Since the return of the Taliban, the country has been as dangerous as ever.”

He rejected the Department of Homeland Security’s assessment of an “improved security situation,” calling it out of step with the lived experience of Afghans under Taliban rule. “The Taliban, at the end of the day, are a terrorist group,” Sangi stated. “They target anyone who disagrees with them—anyone who worked with the U.S. government or allied forces. Their lives are in grave danger.”

Sangi also emphasized the worsening conditions for women in Afghanistan, noting that they are barred from education, work, and public life. “They view women as subservient. They treat them worse than cattle,” he said. “It’s a prison. People are essentially under house arrest, and they can’t escape.”

Calls to Reconsider and Avoid Engagement with Taliban

Despite his concerns, Sangi has not withdrawn his support for President Trump, but he is urging the administration to reverse course. “We do have hope that any kind of mistake that is made specifically in regards to Afghanistan will be corrected,” he said.

He praised Trump for cutting foreign aid to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan and for refusing to recognize the group as a legitimate government. “The Taliban mock America, reject your demands for the return of our $7 billion in military equipment, and harbor terrorists who threaten our homeland,” Sangi warned. “Engaging with them isn’t America First.”

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defended the decision, citing a stabilizing economy and improved conditions in Afghanistan. “This administration is returning TPS to its original, temporary intent,” she stated. “Conditions in Afghanistan do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation.”

TPS, a program intended for individuals from countries facing war, disaster, or extraordinary conditions, was initially extended to Afghan nationals in 2021 by then-President Joe Biden following the U.S. military’s withdrawal. Many of the affected individuals include former Afghan government workers and those associated with U.S. missions.

Former Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mike McCaul sharply criticized the administration’s claim that Afghanistan is safe. “The Taliban have made their thirst for retribution against those who help the United States clear,” McCaul said. “Until they demonstrate substantial behavioral changes, I urge the administration to continue prioritizing the safety of the Afghan men and women who risked their lives to help our troops.”

As the deadline approaches, Afghan families under TPS face an uncertain future, torn between allegiance to a president they supported and fear of being sent back to a regime many consider life-threatening.