Faith Leaders Urge Trump to Halt Deportations of Afghan Christians Facing Taliban Persecution

EXCLUSIVE: Christian leaders are pressing President Donald Trump to rectify a Biden-era policy by stopping the deportation of Afghan Christians who face grave risks of torture or death under Taliban control. Amid Holy Week rallies, faith leaders across the U.S. have united in calling for urgent intervention.

On April 10, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it would end humanitarian parole for thousands of Afghan nationals, effectively ordering around 9,000 to leave the U.S. within days. Contrary to early reports that labeled the action as ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS), DHS internal documents clarify those affected were on humanitarian parole, a distinction later corrected by advocacy groups.

Among those impacted are hundreds of Afghan Christians—many converts after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021—who now confront immediate threats under Taliban rule. A coalition memo, sent directly to President Trump and top government leaders, highlights fears that all 9,000 could face persecution but singles out Christian converts at highest risk, urging a 90-day deportation moratorium to allow legal protections to catch up.

The coalition’s proposal includes a "vetted exemptions list" to help DHS swiftly reinstate humanitarian protections or expedite asylum and special immigrant visa reviews for the most vulnerable.

One story stands out—an Afghan Christian, "Nashinas," who suffered Taliban torture in 2021, resettled in North Carolina, actively participates in his local church, yet has been formally ordered to leave despite asylum claims pending. The deportation timeline aligns uncannily with Holy Week, adding a poignant urgency to faith communities worldwide.

Enduring Hope Alliance, a group that facilitated resettlement for over a thousand Christian converts and U.S. allies after the chaotic withdrawal, calls the issue a moral imperative. Private donations and volunteer efforts underscore how much American citizens have poured time and resources into rescuing persecuted individuals, reflecting a grassroots response to government shortcomings.

Former Bush administration official Mike Mannina, a vocal rescuer who has rarely spoken publicly, called the Afghanistan withdrawal “one of the darkest chapters in American foreign policy” but praised the outpouring of American resolve that followed. It would indeed be a bitter twist to see that courageous work undone now.

In an exclusive Fox News Digital interview, Rev. Franklin Graham noted that while the deportation deadline seemed imminent, he’s heard indications the administration might extend protections until July—allowing more time to resolve visa issues. Yet, DHS has not publicly confirmed any extension, and some Afghan Christians have already received departure notices with a mere seven-day window.

Independent watchdogs, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and Human Rights Watch, confirm that under Taliban rule, Afghan Christians endure severe persecution, with conversion from Islam considered apostasy punishable by death. One human rights group even asserts Afghan Christians face graver danger today than Christians did under ISIS.

Advocates stress that deporting these individuals violates core U.S. values and international laws protecting refugees from being sent back to dangerous conditions. Josh Youssef, founder of Help The Persecuted, urged President Trump to step in with a surgical approach—offering targeted protections rather than broad policy change.

“It’s Good Friday,” Youssef said gravely. “To send these Christians back where they could face their own crucifixion is unthinkable. We’re asking the president to fix this.”