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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 line with a New York Occasions scoop, greater than 1,100 Afghan refugees who’re presently in Qatar at a former US navy base and who had been promised an opportunity to return to the US could quickly be supplied a alternative between relocation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and returning to Afghanistan.
Neither possibility is fascinating: Congo is presently dealing with a critical refugee disaster and ongoing combating 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? Most 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 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 accordance 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 yr 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 beneath dialogue by the Trump administration and Congolese officers. However it might match a well-worn sample of the Trump administration making an attempt to ship refugees and different immigrants wherever 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 not less than 15 individuals had been despatched there final week.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
Hello readers, glad Earth Day! In the event you’re in search of some actionable methods to assist the planet immediately, my colleagues over at Future Good pulled collectively some charity suggestions right here.
In the event you’re simply able to sign off, I hope you’re capable of do it by getting exterior and having fun with nature a little bit bit this night. Thanks for studying, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
