US arranges deportation flight sending dozens of Afghans back to Afghanistan

■ Steady

US arranges deportation flight returning dozens of Afghans to Afghanistan

On Tuesday, a report said the Trump administration had arranged a flight to return dozens of Afghan immigrants to Afghanistan, and noted the deportees face a risk of persecution by the Taliban. On Monday, the Taliban government said it was seriously concerned about reported US plans to deport more than 150 Afghans to Pakistan before an eventual return home, and advocacy groups warned the removals could endanger their lives. Separately, official data cited by France 24 shows arrests for illegal crossings at the southern border have fallen by more than 93 percent from the peak under the previous administration.

• A flight returning dozens of Afghans to Afghanistan has been arranged, according to a report on Tuesday.
• The Taliban says it is seriously concerned about a reported plan to deport more than 150 Afghans via Pakistan.
• Advocacy groups warn the removals could endanger the Afghans' lives.
• Official data cited by France 24 shows illegal crossing arrests down more than 93 percent from the Biden-era peak.