9/4/2025 Afghanistan (International Christian Concern) — The U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued a press statement last week condemning the Taliban’s continued efforts to “subjugate and target” religious minorities and calling for the U.S. to renew legal protections recently removed from Afghan refugees at high risk of religious persecution. 

“If forced to return to Afghanistan,” USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler said, “all Afghans, including religious minorities, are at severe risk of persecution.” 

According to Stephen Schneck, a USCIRF commissioner, Taliban rule has created an environment of extreme danger for the country’s religious minority communities. 

“The situation in Afghanistan remains dire for those who do not share the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islam,” Schneck said. “We are deeply concerned that religious minority communities will be in grave danger, especially women and girls.” 

Afghan Christians are mostly first-generation converts from Islam, leaving them at risk of particularly severe punishment if discovered. Under the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law, converts to Christianity are considered apostates deserving of the death penalty. 

The U.S. refugee program was suspended on Jan. 22 and has not been reopened to persecuted religious groups since. The only group allowed in as refugees are white South Africans who, administration officials claim, are being targeted for their race.  

Before the suspension, persecuted ethnic and religious minorities could apply for refugee status. When the program was halted, some refugees who had already been approved for U.S. entry were redirected to camps abroad. 

According to reports, the Trump administration is currently engaging in internal talks to determine the fate of the refugee program in 2026. 

In July, the U.S. made headlines when Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, exposing Afghan refugees in the U.S. to possible forced return despite ongoing dangers under Taliban rule. TPS indicates that the U.S. recognizes conditions on the ground as too dangerous for safe return. 

Afghanistan first received a TPS designation on May 20, 2022. Noem lifted it effective July 22, 2025, just as millions of refugees were being returned from Pakistan and Iran, amid reports of a mounting humanitarian crisis and continued rights violations against minorities. 

The move came a month after the Trump administration imposed near-total restrictions on travel to the U.S. by citizens of a dozen countries, including Afghanistan. The administration cited national security concerns and a lack of cooperation by certain governments in vetting travelers. 

International Christian Concern (ICC) spoke with several groups advocating for Afghan refugees in the U.S. According to their sources, Christian Afghan refugees are receiving official notices indicating that they may be deported at any time. One group told ICC that administration officials — though sympathetic — have been unwilling to extend firm assurances or assistance, instead insisting refugees pursue standard immigration channels. 

“As the Trump administration works to restructure its refugee policy, USCIRF urges restoration of the Temporary Protective Status (TPS) designation for Afghanistan to protect those who fled religious persecution,” USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood said in last week’s press release. “By prioritizing vulnerable Afghan religious minorities, the administration and Congress signal their commitment to freedom of religion or belief.” 

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