The US ended Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan on Monday, with officials assessing that the country is safe enough for Afghans to return to.
The Department of Homeland Security made the announcement in mid-May, with the termination taking effect on July 14.
The department said at the time that “conditions in Afghanistan no longer meet the statutory requirements” for TPS, which provides protection from deportation as well as the ability to work in the US to citizens of countries experiencing conflict or other crises.
TPS for Afghanistan was granted in 2022. The US withdrew its last troops from the country in August 2021, after the Taliban had seized control across Afghanistan and the US-backed security forces collapsed. The ignominious end to America's longest war continues to drive bitter debate in Washington.
Amid the chaotic withdrawal, Afghans who had worked with the US military fled the country out of fear of reprisals. Others, including soldiers, civil society leaders and former government employees, also left, flooding into neighbouring countries or making their way to the West.
It is estimated that as many as 11,700 Afghans have received TPS, though this can be held concurrently with another status that would allow a person to remain in the US.
Laila Ayub, co-founder of the Afghan community immigration justice organisation Project Anar, said the revocation of TPS leaves thousands of people in limbo. She said that taking away authorisation to work makes it more difficult for Afghans to have a sense of stability.
“Many people need that to have housing or, of course, to be able to work, but it'll impact many other things in their life very immediately as well, and it's taking away that protection that all these things really add up,” she told The National.
Ms Ayub, whose community immigration justice organisation was formed and led by Afghan-American women, highlighted the contradiction that the US sees Afghanistan as stable enough for citizens to return, but also includes the country on its travel ban list.
Last month, people from Afghanistan, and 11 other nations, were banned from entering the US after it was flagged as high risk because of the level of extremist activity there.
“Their justification for including all of the countries [in the travel ban] is that that country's government can't meet US standards for security and vetting and all these things,” Ms Ayub said. “But the impact is clear that all of it is making it harder for people here and for people pursuing pathways to the US.”
Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, echoed that fear, saying it was a “really scary time for veterans, for our allies”.
“We hope to not see a bunch of Afghans being deported, but it seems like that's the path that we're on,” Mr VanDiver, whose organisation works to protect people who worked with US soldiers during the war.
“It seems like the truth is that the US government policy with regard to Afghanistan and relocations is still under review, but all of the indications are that they're trying to shut it all down.”
The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
- Parasite – 4
- 1917– 3
- Ford v Ferrari – 2
- Joker – 2
- Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
- American Factory – 1
- Bombshell – 1
- Hair Love – 1
- Jojo Rabbit – 1
- Judy – 1
- Little Women – 1
- Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
- Marriage Story – 1
- Rocketman – 1
- The Neighbors' Window – 1
- Toy Story 4 – 1
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
ETFs explained
Exhchange traded funds are bought and sold like shares, but operate as index-tracking funds, passively following their chosen indices, such as the S&P 500, FTSE 100 and the FTSE All World, plus a vast range of smaller exchanges and commodities, such as gold, silver, copper sugar, coffee and oil.
ETFs have zero upfront fees and annual charges as low as 0.07 per cent a year, which means you get to keep more of your returns, as actively managed funds can charge as much as 1.5 per cent a year.
There are thousands to choose from, with the five biggest providers BlackRock’s iShares range, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETFs, Deutsche Bank AWM X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
