New York, NY, May 13, 2025 — Hans Van de Weerd, Senior Vice President of Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration at the International Rescue Committee (IRC), said:
“We are deeply concerned by the decision of the US Department of Homeland Security to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans in the United States. More than 9,000 people could lose protection from deportation, if this decision takes effect. Afghanistan is on IRC’s 2025 Emergency Watchlist as one of the most fragile humanitarian crises on earth. Removing TPS holders from their communities in the US and returning them back to a country where 50% of the population is in need of humanitarian aid will have devastating consequences.
“People with TPS are valuable members of American communities, schools, and workplaces. Ending TPS for Afghans in the US harms not only those relying on TPS for safety and protection, but also the communities that benefit from their contributions.
“Since 2021, the IRC has provided case management, housing, employment support, and legal services for around 12,000 Afghan children and adults in the US, helping them reunite with family, receive critical legal protections such as TPS and asylum, pursue a path to citizenship, and gain or maintain employment authorization. The IRC remains committed to providing these vital services for individuals who have fled conflict and persecution, and seek to rebuild their lives in the US.
“We urgently call on the US government to reconsider this harmful policy change and maintain this life-saving humanitarian protection for people from Afghanistan.”