US deportation flights for Afghans set for 16 November as TPS vote pushed

The US administration has threatened to start deporting Afghan nationals to Pakistan as soon as mid-November, with flights scheduled for 16 November 2026, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) court filing. In response, lawmakers are trying to force a House vote on a bill that would restore Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans.

Key facts

• Deportation flights are scheduled for 16 November 2026, DHS said in a court filing.
• Slightly over 8,000 Afghans face removal after DHS ended TPS for Afghanistan.
• The plan is to send Afghan nationals to Pakistan first, then on to Afghanistan.
• Representative Jason Crow of Colorado filed a discharge petition on 9 November 2026 to force a House vote.
• The petition needs 218 signatures, including four Republican members.

What is happening?

DHS ended TPS for Afghanistan, leaving slightly over 8,000 Afghans at risk of deportation to the country. Over the summer, the Supreme Court found that courts had little power to review TPS suspensions, allowing protections to be stripped for citizens of 13 countries.

Court battles aimed at blocking the removals have had some initial success. Even so, DHS stated in one filing that it intends to proceed with flights scheduled for 16 November.

Who is affected?

Many of the Afghans concerned arrived in the United States during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Some have struggled to secure another immigration status, either waiting in the asylum backlog or facing difficulties meeting the requirements for the Special Immigrant Visa granted to those who served alongside US military members.

The group in immigration custody facing deportation includes women. Advocates warn that returning these Afghans could expose them to retribution by the Taliban.

What is Congress doing?

Crow, a veteran who was deployed to Afghanistan, filed a discharge petition on Monday night to force a vote on the TPS bill. "It's both a moral and national security imperative that we keep that promise," he said of the pledge to look after Afghan partners.

The measure has bipartisan co-sponsors, including Representatives Don Bacon of Nebraska, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida and Sam Liccardo of California. Crow still needs 218 signatures, which means winning over four Republican members.

The House used the same mechanism earlier this year to pass a bill restoring TPS for Haiti, but that bill has languished in the Senate, where Republican leadership has not brought it to the floor. Senate Republican Conference Chair Tom Cotton of Arkansas has been a vocal opponent of past efforts to give status to Afghans who entered the country through the evacuation.

What do Pakistan and the Taliban say?

Pakistan has said the plan is still under review. The Taliban has said it is opposed, with foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi expressing what he called serious concern about the reported intention to deport Afghan refugees via Pakistan.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has not commented publicly, saying it does not confirm prospective removal operations, flight schedules or destinations.

What this means for travellers

Afghans in the United States who lost TPS protection are the group directly affected by the scheduled flights. The practical developments to follow are the House signature count for the discharge petition and the ongoing court cases over the removals.

Timing remains uncertain. A bill must have been introduced for a certain amount of time before it is considered ripe for a discharge petition, and it is unclear whether or when the administration will move ahead with the flights. Some backers argue the matter cannot wait until Democrats take control of both chambers next year.