'The government will find you': DHS emails warn Afghan refugees in US
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Afghan refugees in Iowa are receiving deportation emails from DHS, warning of detention and forced removal, sparking fear of return to Taliban rule.
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Rahmani, an Afghan refugee, plays with his daughter at the apartment where they were resettled by the Lutheran Social Services National Capital Area organization in Laurel, Md., Monday, March 3, 2025 (AP)
Afghan refugees residing in Iowa have been gripped by fear following emails from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), instructing them to leave the country immediately.
Shir Agha Safi, executive director of Afghan Partners in Iowa, stated that these emails have caused panic among the Afghan community, many of whom face severe threats, including torture and death, if forced to return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
According to data obtained by Axios, the emails included threats of deportation and governmental action should the refugees remain in the US.
"It is time for you to leave the United States," the notice's first sentence reads. It further warns of detention, loss of work authorization, and possible prosecution if they remain.
"Do not attempt to remain in the United States — the federal government will find you," stated an April 6 email sent to an Afghan refugee living in Des Moines.
Emails tied to old refugee processing systems
Safi believes the emails were sent to addresses provided in a government app used for processing refugee claims years ago.
Karen Everling, executive director of the World Grace Project in Waterloo, also confirmed that Venezuelan and Haitian refugees have received similar notices.
Similar DHS notices have appeared in North Carolina and Utah, as the US winds down its temporary Afghan parole program. The messages resemble those reported by NBC News, including one mistakenly sent to a US-born doctor in Connecticut.
Meanwhile, DHS confirmed that the emails were sent by Customs and Border Protection to known immigrant email addresses. Some may have mistakenly reached US citizen contacts, which DHS is monitoring.
"To be clear: If you are an alien, being in the United States is a privilege, not a right. We are acting in the best interest of the country and enforcing the law accordingly," DHS stated to Axios.
Refugee protections under threat
DHS had extended deportation protections in 2023 for Afghan refugees who fled after the US withdrawal in 2021. Over 900 Afghans have been resettled in Iowa, supported by local organizations helping them through a complex path to permanent residency.
Approximately 200 refugees in Iowa, many of them former soldiers who fought alongside US forces, have received these notices, according to Safi.
With limited local support, Safi's group is helping families consult legal advisers and review options. He urged action from US senators, stating, "It could make the difference between life and death for our people."
Trump’s secret goal; deport one million migrants: WP
This is part of the US administration's crackdown on immigrants and refugees, intensified with Trump's accession to office.
The Trump administration has set its sights on a striking goal: deporting one million immigrants within a single year—a figure that would shatter all historical records. According to a Washington Post report citing four current and former federal officials with direct knowledge of internal discussions, the “1 million” target has repeatedly come up in private strategy sessions as the driving ambition behind the administration’s intensified deportation campaign during President Trump’s first year back in office.
Deporting such a large number would significantly outpace prior records. The highest annual deportation figure to date was slightly over 400,000 during the Obama administration. However, officials say it remains unclear how Trump’s team is calculating the numbers.
