Afghan refugees load their belongings onto a truck as they prepare for their deportation to Afghanistan, at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Torkham on April 19. Suhrab, an Afghan-Canadian man whose parents and siblings are stuck in Pakistan, fears they could be targeted by the Taliban if they are deported.ABDUL MAJEED/AFP/Getty Images
After years of living in cramped quarters in Pakistan, one Afghan family’s chance to start fresh in Tennessee was abruptly quashed by the Trump administration.
Suhrab, an Afghan-Canadian who lives in British Columbia, had tried everything to help his mother, father and three siblings settle somewhere safe after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. They’d made it to Pakistan, but staying there long term was not tenable, because they could be easily deported back to their homeland. Suhrab’s father, a former judge, was a Taliban target.
The Globe is identifying Suhrab only by his first name and is not identifying his relatives in Pakistan because it could put them in danger.
Suhrab had wanted to bring his family to Canada, but getting them all visas was going to be too difficult. After that, he tried Germany, where one of his brothers lives, but that also didn’t come to fruition. Finally, with the help of Allied Shepherd, a non-governmental organization that supports at-risk Afghans, they were on track to move to the U.S. through private sponsorship.
In the fall of 2024, Suhrab’s relatives completed the two interviews required for U.S. settlement, along with medical checks. They had all but packed their bags. Then, Donald Trump was elected president, and one of his first orders of business was to suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, leaving Suhrab’s family and thousands of others in limbo.
“Everybody was hopeful. They were so close,” Suhrab said. He spoke to The Globe and Mail on a video call, along with his family in Pakistan, who huddled around the screen to share their story. Kami Rice, who works with Allied Shepherd and has been supporting the family, also joined the call.
Suhrab said his father would be in grave danger if his family were to return to Afghanistan, as some of his decisions as a judge had led to Taliban fighters going to jail.
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Less than two days after the Taliban took control of the country, Taliban members went to his parents’ house looking for his father. His father was out when they arrived but, one man, who Suhrab’s father had put behind bars, told Suhrab’s mother that they would be back.
The family went into hiding until they managed to flee to Pakistan.
On the video call, Suhrab’s father said he’s certain if he returns to Afghanistan the Taliban will put him in jail – and he doesn’t know what would happen next.
After struggling to find a country to accept his relatives, Suhrab and his family were connected to Ms. Rice, who was helping families evacuate.
Ms. Rice arranged for a church where she’s from in Tennessee to sponsor Suhrab’s family. That set in motion their refugee case, which was being processed under the private sponsorship program.
“When I told them they were coming to my hometown they were so excited, and they said, ‘We will bring honour to your name. We will be good neighbours.’ ”
Ms. Rice said their case was very far along in the process. “We thought we were within a month or two of having flights for them to the U.S.”
The Trump administration has increasingly cracked down on support for Afghans. In May, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the U.S. was ending Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan, saying that the country “has had an improved security situation and its stabilizing economy no longer prevent them from returning to their home country.”
Human-rights advocates disagree with that assessment. The United Nations refugee agency said in a statement on Saturday that more than 1.2 million Afghans have returned or have been “forced to return” from Iran and Pakistan in 2025, “worsening the already desperate situation inside Afghanistan.”
In June, Mr. Trump announced that citizens from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, were barred from entering the United States.
Jordan MacInnis, director of domestic programs at Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), said that Afghans inside and outside of the country have very few options.
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“Returning to Afghanistan, particularly for the most vulnerable – and this is women, girls, rights defenders, journalists, marginalized communities and many others – means returning to a context that does not recognize the most basic human rights and need for dignity.”
Beginning in August, 2021, JHR has assisted more than 2,500 Afghans with relocation and resettlement support, and the majority of them are now in Canada.
On the video call, Suhrab’s brother said the situation is precarious for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. They have to renew their visas every month, which is expensive, and a delay could mean deportation.
Suhrab said he and a brother who lives in Germany have been sending money to support their family in Pakistan. Suhrab has been working two jobs to keep up with all the expenses.
“We are just in survival mode to be honest,” he said.
Ms. Rice said they are now pursuing opportunities in Brazil and are hoping an NGO in that country will support their application.
That relief can’t come soon enough, says Suhrab.
“The whole family has been staying in one bedroom. It’s been three years.”