May 29, 2025
US sends Afghan Christians to Taliban
ICC demands safeguards for persecuted converts in the U.S. and Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for over 9,000 Afghan nationals sparks fears of deporting Christian converts back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where they face brutal persecution, warns International Christian Concern (ICC) (persecution.org), a global authority on religious freedom. While many Afghan Christians remain in Afghanistan, practicing their faith in secret, thousands who fled to the U.S. under emergency extractions escaped imminent danger.
ICC recognizes the need for immigration control and notes that some non-Christians, not at risk, entered the U.S. during efforts to extract persecuted Afghan Christians. However, most of these refugees fled genuine Taliban threats. A blanket deportation policy endangers lives, both among U.S.-based refugees and vulnerable converts still in Afghanistan.
“We support secure borders, but casting Afghan Christian refugees back to the Taliban’s grip is a deadly mistake,” said Jeff King, President of ICC and a leading expert on religious persecution. “ICC’s decades of work in Afghanistan, including smuggling targeted Christians to safety during the Taliban’s takeover, show why nuanced protections are critical for those facing persecution.”
ICC urges the administration to adopt targeted policies, ensuring safe pathways for Afghan Christian refugees in the U.S. and those at risk of exposure under Taliban rule.
Jeff King has served as International Christian Concern (ICC) (persecution.org) president since 2003 and is one of the world’s top experts on religious persecution. He has advocated for the persecuted everywhere, testifying before the U.S. Congress on religious freedom. He has been interviewed by leading media outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and The Washington Times. Jeff is also the host of “Faith Under Fire,” a podcast dedicated to sharing stories of the persecuted church from around the world. “Faith Under Fire” is available on LifeAudio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts are available. Jeff King is available as a guest speaker. To learn more, go to Christian Persecution and Spiritual Growth Speaker | Jeff King Blog.
Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of assistance, advocacy, and awareness. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world. Visit the International Christian Concern media page here.
Jeff King is the author of three books: “The Whisper” (2024), “Last Words of the Martyrs” (2023), and “Islam Uncensored” (2011). Jeff is available to speak at churches and events. For speaking, contact Jaela Bernard: jaelabernard@gmail.com.
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To interview Jeff King, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Richard Jefferson, rjefferson@hamiltonstrategies.com.
