Trump Vows to Help Afghan Refugees as UAE Begins Repatriations

President Donald Trump has pledged to intervene to help Afghan refugees detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who face deportation back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Despite Trump's public commitment on Truth Social to "try to save them," internal U.S. State Department cables reveal the UAE had already begun deporting some families and planned to deport the remaining refugees by July 20, seeking safety guarantees from the Taliban. The refugees, including former U.S. allies and vulnerable individuals, have been stranded in UAE's Emirates Humanitarian City since the 2021 U.S. withdrawal, with many living in legal limbo for years. Advocacy groups and UN officials have expressed deep concern over the deportations, warning of serious risks to returnees under Taliban rule. Trump's pledge contrasts with his prior administration's strict refugee policies, including ending protections for many Afghans, while the Biden administration has resettled nearly 200,000 Afghans in the U.S. The situation highlights urgent calls for coordinated international action to protect these refugees from forced repatriation and potential persecution.