‘Nefarious’ Trump plan to interview Afghan immigrants sparks deportation fears
Refugees and activists are alarmed about a reported effort by the federal government to begin interviewing hundreds of Afghans in the U.S., fearing sensitive information gathered by immigration officials will be used to fuel future deportations.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement is reportedly seeking to interview roughly 800 Afghans brought to the U.S. for what the agency called a “wellbeing initiative” focused on assessing “common challenges” among Afghan refugees who may be in “vulnerable situations.”
The alleged effort, according to a July 14 email to ORR staff obtained by The Washington Post, includes asking respondents about their identities, assimilation into American culture and the immigration status of each member of their household. The questionnaire also reportedly includes a notice that answers are not anonymous and information shared with interviewers could be retained for 15 years.
The survey calls have likely already begun, one activist group told The Independent.
The interviews may have started as early as this Thursday, according to Sean VanDiver, founder of the advocacy group #AfghanEvac. It remains unclear how the information would be used, prompting concern among advocacy groups given the vulnerable status of Afghan immigrants in the U.S.
“There’s no good reason for them to be doing this,” VanDiver told The Independent. “They don’t care about the welfare of Afghans. … Everything that this administration has done with them has been to cause harm, has been to throw them out of the country.”
“This is a group that has seen nearly every pathway closed to them, and holds dwindling hope for reuniting with their families,” Beth Oppenheim, CEO of the refugee advocacy group HIAS, told The Independent in a statement.
“Every moment for them is fraught with uncertainty, and the potential for even more fear as a result,” she added. “We want everyone we welcome into this country to feel safe, and we need to remember the distrust that closed doors and blocked pathways create for people when we ask them to be vulnerable again and again.”
VanDiver added that he has been hearing from sources within the administration that the interview program has “nefarious” intentions.
ORR, which operates under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., “is strengthening its efforts to ensure that the populations it serves receive the services funded by American taxpayers,” the Administration for Children and Families told The Independent in a statement.
“The agency is actively conducting outreach to connect eligible individuals with ORR-funded services and will continue those efforts for the duration of their eligibility,” the agency said.
The agency added that ORR “works closely with its federal law enforcement partners” and is required by law to share information “regarding individuals involved in suspected criminal activity.”
The Independent has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
Advocates have repeatedly voiced concern about Donald Trump’s record towards Afghans so far.
