UAE Begins Deporting Afghan Refugees Despite US Promises

The United Arab Emirates has begun deporting Afghan refugees back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, a move that started before President Donald Trump promised to rescue those stranded in the UAE. According to a leaked U.S. State Department cable and multiple reports, at least two Afghan families were returned to Afghanistan in early July, with the UAE seeking assurances from the Taliban about their safety. However, there are concerns that some families were pressured to choose between signing voluntary returns or facing detention, raising questions about the voluntariness of these deportations. Approximately 17,000 Afghan refugees have been processed through the UAE's Emirates Humanitarian City since 2021, but more than 30 remain in limbo. Trump stated he is actively working to save the remaining Afghan evacuees, though the deportation process appears to be progressing despite his intervention. Humanitarian groups have expressed serious concerns about the safety and rights of Afghan refugees amid these forced returns under Taliban rule.