This story appeared in The Logoff, a each day publication that helps you keep knowledgeable in regards to the Trump administration with out letting political information take over your life. Subscribe right here.
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 accordance with a New York Instances scoop, greater than 1,100 Afghan refugees who’re presently in Qatar at a former US army base and who have been promised an opportunity to return to the US might quickly be supplied a selection between relocation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and returning to Afghanistan.
Neither possibility is fascinating: Congo is presently going through a critical refugee disaster and ongoing preventing with a insurgent paramilitary group, and the refugees don’t have any ties to the nation. However in Afghanistan, their lives can be in fast hazard from the nation’s Taliban authorities.
Who’re the refugees? Lots of the 1,100 Afghans now caught in limbo in Qatar aided the US over practically 20 years of warfare as interpreters working with US troops or served as members of the Afghan particular forces. Some, the Instances reviews, are members of the family of American troopers, and greater than 400 are kids.
Most have additionally already been screened and accredited to maneuver to the US, in keeping 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 12 months after two Nationwide Guard members in Washington, DC, have 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 below dialogue by the Trump administration and Congolese officers. However it could match a well-worn sample of the Trump administration attempting to ship refugees and different immigrants anyplace 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 a minimum of 15 folks have been despatched there final week.
And with that, it’s time to sign off…
Hello readers, blissful Earth Day! In the event you’re in search of some actionable methods to assist the planet right now, my colleagues over at Future Excellent 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 outdoors and having fun with nature a bit bit this night. Thanks for studying, and we’ll see you again right here tomorrow!
