President Donald Trump recently pledged on Truth Social to help Afghan evacuees stranded in the United Arab Emirates. However, internal U.S. State Department cables reveal that the UAE had already begun deporting refugees back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan days before Trump’s post. The UAE, a key U.S. security ally, had hosted around 17,000 Afghans at Emirates Humanitarian City in Abu Dhabi since the 2021 Kabul evacuation. Today, over 30 individuals remain, facing forced repatriation.
According to the July 10 cable, UAE official Salem al-Zaabi informed U.S. diplomats that two families had already been sent back to Afghanistan and that the remaining evacuees would be deported by July 20. He said the UAE would seek safety guarantees from the Taliban and requested U.S. cooperation in managing public perception to avoid backlash over Washington’s failure to resettle these refugees.
Contrary to UAE claims that the families requested to return, sources close to the matter said refugees were pressured to sign voluntary deportation letters under threat of arrest. Trump’s post appeared unaware of these developments, sparking criticism from advocacy group #AfghanEvac, which urged him to act swiftly to prevent further deportations.
The situation is drawing global attention as over 1,500 Afghan refugees also remain in limbo at Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar. These include former U.S. allies, military family members, and vulnerable women and children who face severe threats under Taliban rule.
While the Biden administration has resettled nearly 200,000 Afghans, critics highlight the urgency to protect the remaining evacuees. Trump’s prior refugee policy and decision to end temporary protections in April add complexity to the issue. The fate of these Afghans now hinges on coordinated international intervention before more are returned to danger.