June 5, 2025 | Washington, D.C. — A new policy proposal from the Trump administration to end deportation protections for Afghan nationals has drawn swift and sharp criticism from U.S. veterans, many of whom served alongside these individuals during America’s two-decade war in Afghanistan.
The proposal, revealed in internal discussions at the Department of Homeland Security and first reported by immigration advocates, would roll back protections granted under humanitarian parole and the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program — protections that thousands of Afghan interpreters, contractors, and their families have relied on since the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.
Betraying Allies, Say Veterans
Veterans groups and former military leaders are sounding the alarm, calling the move a betrayal of the Afghan allies who risked their lives to support U.S. forces.
“We made a promise — not just a moral one, but a battlefield one,” said retired Army Captain Mike Breen, CEO of Human Rights First. “Turning our backs on those who stood beside us under fire sends a dangerous message to future partners and undermines American honor.”
Social media platforms were flooded with messages from veterans expressing outrage and disappointment. Many pointed to the chaotic 2021 evacuation from Kabul as an unfinished mission — one that left thousands of vulnerable Afghans behind. For those who made it to the U.S., they say, revoking protections would be a second betrayal.
A Shift in Trump’s Immigration Stance
During his second term, President Trump has doubled down on his hardline immigration policies, expanding deportations, limiting asylum, and seeking to curtail temporary protected status (TPS) for various groups. The proposed rollback of Afghan protections reflects that broader shift — but it has touched a particularly sensitive nerve among veterans.
While the administration claims the change is necessary for “national security” and “immigration integrity,” critics argue that the policy ignores rigorous vetting procedures already in place for SIV applicants and humanitarian parole recipients.
“These are people who went through extensive background checks,” said Matt Zeller, a former Army officer and co-founder of No One Left Behind. “They wore our uniform. They fought our war. To label them as a threat now is morally bankrupt.”
Political Blowback
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are beginning to push back. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a combat veteran herself, called the proposed change “deeply troubling” and vowed to fight any legislation that would strip protections from vetted Afghan allies. Democrats, meanwhile, have accused Trump of using anti-immigrant sentiment to rally his political base ahead of midterms.
“We have a duty to these individuals,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). “They served our country. Abandoning them now would be an unconscionable failure of leadership.”
What’s Next?
The policy is not yet finalized and could face legal challenges if implemented. Veterans groups are organizing lobbying efforts and public campaigns to pressure Congress and the White House to reverse course.
For now, the fate of thousands of Afghan allies in the U.S. remains uncertain — and the rift between veterans and the administration appears to be widening.
