Afghanistan has historically been religiously diverse, however after the Taliban took control of the government in the mid-1990s, most non-Muslims left the country. Today, almost the entire population is Muslim (approximately 85% Sunni and 15% Shia). The balance of those living in Afghanistan, under 5%, are Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Baha’is, and others.
The Taliban took control of the country in August of 2021 after the United States military forces left Afghanistan. This created a refugee crisis as people tried to escape the Taliban. (Read Emmanual’s first-hand report here.) More than 1 million Afghans took refuge in 98 countries, including Brazil. 21W worked to support the resettlement of Afghan refugees after the fall of Kabul.
21Wilberforce has helped connect Afghan refugees with other NGOs for evacuation efforts in Brazil and we helped to craft solutions in Brazil to overcome concerns identified with visa approval. At the time, Brazil’s government wanted to be sure Afghans coming to Brazil would not be in need or face danger in Brazil. There was an opportunity to bring civil society to help assist Afghan refugees.
21Wilberforce Senior Fellow and Latin America Ambassador, André Simão, connected with different NGOs in Brazil. He also encouraged Brazilian Baptists to launch a new project (Vila Minha Patria, in Morungaba, State of São Paulo) to receive, host, help, or sponsor Afghan refugees, including Portuguese classes and help integrate them into society. Further, we connected Brazilian diplomats to ensure NGOs would assist the refugees so visas could be granted, enabling them to travel to Brazil.
A group of 53 Afghans, including many children, were granted Brazilian humanitarian visas and they arrived in Brazil on April 19, 2022 to start a new life. The refugees were mostly Hazara Muslims who worked for an American NGO that for 13 years had helped widows and orphans with successful income-generation projects in Afghanistan. The NGO remained highly active in finding solutions to move people out of Afghanistan. They faced particular threats and were hiding in Afghanistan until they could obtain all legal documents to exit to Pakistan, then on to Brazil.
André collaborated with filmmaker, J.R Bonavita, to chronicle the story of over 400 Afghans who found refuge in Brazil the first twelve months, escaping the Taliban. The documentary, “For Me” (59 minutes, Portuguese and English) tells a little of the history of the rescue and welcoming of Afghan Islamic families by the Brazilian Baptists. Over the last two years, more than 700 Afghans have settled in Brazil.
As reported by Reuters, the U.S. evacuated more than 82,000 Afghans from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in 2021, including more than 70,000 who entered the U.S. with temporary “parole,” which allowed legal entry for a period of two years. TPS offered another avenue of protection and work authorization to nationals from Afghanistan and other countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.
On April 11, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security terminated Temporary Protection Service (TPS) for Afghan nationals coming to the U.S., citing an improvement in conditions in Afghanistan. Affected individuals have been instructed to depart the U.S. by May 20, 2025.
The recent decision affects approximately 14,600 Afghans currently residing in the US under TPS. This move has alarmed many, as Afghanistan continues to experience significant risks and human rights abuses, especially against religious and ethnic minorities. The Taliban’s oppressive regime has been documented to persecute groups such as Christians, Hazaras, Sikhs, and others.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued a press release about the Pakistani government’s repatriation of Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan.Their repatriation process began in October 2023, and since March 2025 alone, Pakistan has repatriated an estimated 80,000 Afghans. Recently, Pakistan extended its deadline for undocumented Afghans to leave the country by April 30, including those seeking resettlement to the United States. In USCIRF’s press release, they also report concern about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s announcement to not extend TPS for Afghans residing in the United States, currently set to expire on May 20.
The repatriation of Afghan refugees from the U.S.—especially those who are Christians or members of other religious minorities—is alarming for many reasons, both humanitarian and legal. Key concerns are listed below.
- Risk of persecution: Many of these individuals, especially religious minorities like Christians, Hazara Shia Muslims, Sikhs, or others, face serious threats of violence, imprisonment, or death if returned to Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime has a documented history of religious persecution and human rights abuses.
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS): TPS is a legal status granted to nationals from countries deemed unsafe due to armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions. Afghanistan was designated for TPS due to exactly those reasons. Repatriating individuals under TPS while that designation remains would contradict U.S. policy and humanitarian principles.
- Moral and strategic obligations: Many Afghans now in the U.S. assisted American forces or worked with Western NGOs. Forcing them to return not only endangers their lives but also undermines U.S. credibility and future partnerships abroad.
- Religious freedom violations: Returning religious minorities to a country where they are likely to face systematic repression and possibly extrajudicial punishment runs counter to both international human rights norms and U.S. commitments to religious freedom.
- Lack of education for girls: Girls are deprived of getting an education in Afgahnistan.
Protections for religious minorities under U.S. immigration and asylum law are grounded in the recognition that persecution for one’s faith is a fundamental violation of human rights. The United States has legal obligations under international and domestic law to process asylum claims and protect individuals fleeing persecution, including those targeted for their religious beliefs. Here are key legal frameworks.
- 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol
The U.S. is a party to the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, which incorporates the 1951 Refugee Convention. These bind the U.S. to the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Examples include members of persecuted religious groups (e.g., Yazidis from Iraq, Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar, Uyghurs from China); and Afghans affiliated with U.S. efforts and known to face religious persecution. - U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
Under U.S. law, particularly Section 208 of the INA, individuals physically present in the U.S. or arriving at the border have the right to apply for asylum, regardless of their legal status or how they entered the country. If they demonstrate a well-founded fear of persecution on one of the five protected grounds (including religion), they may be granted asylum. - Religious Freedom
U.S. policy has long emphasized the protection of individuals fleeing religious persecution. This includes provisions under the Refugee Act of 1980, which was designed to align U.S. asylum procedures with international standards. Examples include Christians or atheists in countries enforcing blasphemy or apostasy laws; Muslims in Myanmar or China facing religious repression; and converts from Islam facing death threats in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan or Iran. - Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
While not an asylum status, TPS is another form of humanitarian relief granted to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary conditions. It prevents deportation and allows lawful presence for eligible nationals. While not religion-specific, it indirectly protects religious minorities in conflict-ridden countries like Afghanistan, Syria, and Sudan.
It’s important to note that the situation is evolving, and legal challenges or policy changes could impact the implementation of this decision.
In response to the U.S. TPS policy change, various organizations and faith leaders have mobilized to advocate for the affected Afghan refugees. They believe that the world should protect Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban. If you’re looking to support Afghan refugees facing deportation:
- Contact Elected Officials: Reach out to your representatives to express concern and advocate for the extension of TPS for Afghans.
- Raise Awareness: Share information on social media and within your community to highlight the plight of Afghan refugees and the risks they face.
- Pray for all those seeking safety and protection.
May 1, 2025