The notice filed Monday could result in the mass deportation of thousands of Afghans who live in San Antonio.
SAN ANTONIO — Thousands of Afghan refugees in the San Antonio community are at risk of deportation after the Trump administration announced it will end their temporary protected status or TPS.
The TPS program lets migrants get work permits and avoid deportation if their home country is determined to be unsafe by the U.S. government.
The designation was given in 2021 when the Taliban took over and the U.S. pulled out of the country.
More than 6,000 Afghan refugees in San Antonio have gotten help at the Center for Refugee Services.
Its staff says refugees who came here are worried about the future.
“The status is very much up in the air right now,” said Jill Rips, Center for Refugee Services senior program manager.
“Some of them or not still not receive approval of SIV cases and also some of them are waiting for asylum decisions,” said Naqibullah Ehasas, senior case manager.
The Center for Refugee Services says refugees who lose their status as parolees lose their work permits and it could lead to even more issues.
“That creates all kinds of issues about potential homelessness, poverty, not having food, access to food, other entitlements,” said Rips.
Ehasas is already seeing it happen.
“Yesterday I had one client. He lost his job because of his work authorization,” said Ehasas.
The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said TPS is being suspended because the conditions in Afghanistan have improved. The protection will now end on July 12.
Ehasas says that’s not true.
“The condition nowaday in Afghanistan, its not safety for those people. Girls [are] not allowed to go to school and women are not allowed to go to work. So this is all something people [don’t] believe that I will be safe,” said Ehasas.
Rips says the center, which helps migrants get attorneys, is expecting more refugees coming for help.
“Legal assistance is going to be a big issue to help people figure out their paperwork and to get trying to help them get a status that will protect them and allow them to stay here long term,” said Rips.
The Trump administration is being sued by an immigration rights group who say the government has to legally give 60 days notice before TPS expires, for Afghan refugees, that’s May 20.
Still, Rips says some refugees are getting passports for their children born in the U.S. to have extra security.
To donate to the Center for Refugee Services call (210) 949-0062.
Their food pantry is accepting white rice, white flour, dried pinto beans, dried past, vegetable oil, salt box, black pepper, turmeric, green or black tea bags, canned tomatoes, canned tuna, dried lentils, dried chickpeas, dried kidney beans, raisin, nuts, unsweetened canned pumpkin, liquid dish soap, laundry detergent, bath soap.