Pastor Urges Action Amid Fears of Taliban Retribution for Afghan Christians Following U.S. Refugee Policy Changes

Pastor Urges Action Amid Fears of Taliban Retribution for Afghan Christians Following U.S. Refugee Policy Changes

With the recent announcement from the U.S. government ending protections for thousands of Afghan nationals, Christian leaders and advocates are increasingly worried about the fate of Afghan Christians. Many of these individuals face severe dangers under the Taliban regime, particularly those who converted to Christianity.

Pastor Behnam Rasooli, or Pastor Ben, leads the Oklahoma Khorasan Church in Oklahoma City, a congregation that consists largely of Afghan Christian refugees. In an exclusive interview, he recounted alarming stories about the threats facing his community of believers.

He clearly articulated the perilous situation for those who could be forced back to Afghanistan. “If any of these Afghan Christians are deported back to Afghanistan, the first thing that will happen is the husbands will be killed, and the wives will be taken as sex slaves,” Pastor Ben warned. “If they don’t kill them, they’ll imprison them and torture them nightly.”

The Department of Homeland Security recently announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Afghan nationals. This policy change could compel more than 9,000 Afghan individuals to return to the Taliban-controlled nation, raising alarm among community leaders.

Concerns Raised by Faith Leaders

According to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the justification for revoking protections centers around an alleged improved security situation in Afghanistan. Noem emphasized that this decision aligns with the original intent of Temporary Protected Status.

“This administration is reverting TPS back to its original, temporary intent,” Noem stated. “Following reviews of the security conditions in Afghanistan, our interagency partners agree that they do not warrant a TPS designation any longer.”

Currently, the protections Afghans receive will expire on May 20, culminating in the formal ending of the program on July 12. This raises concerns not just for Afghan Christians but also for other groups vulnerable to Taliban retribution.

Noem further noted that the termination of TPS aligns with the administration’s broader immigration goals, aimed at rooting out potential fraud and national security threats.

Temporary Protected Status allows nationals from conflict-affected countries, natural disaster zones, and those experiencing other emergencies to live and work legally in the United States. When the Taliban took control in 2021, the then-President Joe Biden designated Afghanistan for TPS, providing necessary legal protections for those fleeing persecution.

Dangerous Journeys of Afghan Refugees

Among those at great risk are members of Pastor Ben’s congregation. Many individuals undertook perilous journeys to seek asylum in the United States. Pastor Ben recounted a particularly harrowing story involving a diverse group that traveled from Brazil to Mexico, highlighting the struggles they faced during their lengthy wait for entry approval at a Mexican border crossing.

This group included a 76-year-old woman and a 7-month-old girl who endured ten months in a Mexican church sanctuary, often lacking food and clean water. Despite these hardships, they remained determined to secure legal entry into the U.S.

Pastor Ben expressed concern that the new administration’s policies could endanger these vulnerable individuals, stating, “Now, we have learned that those paroles are being revoked, and they’re not even issuing work permits.”

White House Response to Concerns

In response to inquiries regarding the pastor’s concerns, the White House articulated its viewpoint. A representative noted that the Biden administration had indeed authorized the rapid parole of tens of thousands of Afghans amid claims of urgent humanitarian needs. However, the spokesperson pointed out that parole is temporary and does not serve as a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship.

According to the White House, Afghan nationals lacking legal grounds to remain in the U.S. and fearing persecution can seek asylum and await a judicial review of their cases.

These circumstances highlight the precarious situation faced by many individuals who have historically remained under the shadow of oppression.

Advocacy for Afghan Christians

Petitions to this effect stress the ongoing persecution of Christians by the Taliban, including arrests, torture, and enforcing laws that criminalize the practice of Christianity.

Pastor Ben calls on the Christian community to advocate for their counterparts facing such extreme persecution. He stated, “They need us today to be their voice. We possess freedoms that they do not.”]

Encouraging solidarity, he implored fellow Christians to acknowledge their privilege: “We have all the comfort; they do not. But all they want is for the church to be part of their struggle.”

A Message to President Trump

In addressing President Trump directly, Pastor Ben shared his perspective on the administration’s deportation plan. He expressed, “I fully support your plan because we do not want criminals in the United States. However, we must recognize that among those slated for deportation, some are innocent individuals who risk death, imprisonment, and losing their families.”

He poignantly concluded his message with a plea: “Please, let’s not allow this fate to befall them. Let’s preserve the American Dream for everyone who seeks refuge and safety in this land.”

Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.