Pakistan’s government has initiated a significant crackdown on illegal immigrants, particularly Afghan nationals who fled their home country during the Taliban’s resurgence. The government claims that this action is driven by concerns of terrorism, similar to the ongoing debate in the United States regarding the potential link between illegal immigration and violence.

The crackdown against illegal immigrants began on Wednesday, following a November 1 deadline for them to leave the country. Afghan nationals, who make up the majority of foreigners in Pakistan, are primarily affected. The government justifies the deportation drive by citing crimes such as smuggling and militant attacks, including 14 out of 24 suicide bombings this year involving Afghan nationals, according to government estimates.

Pakistan’s government has given illegal immigrants until November 1 to leave or face arrest, and they have already begun the process of deporting and detaining these individuals. As a result of the crackdown, an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 Afghans are leaving for Afghanistan daily, a significant increase from the previous rate of 300 per day. Reuters reports that over 140,000 individuals have left voluntarily.

Authorities are conducting raids across the country to verify documents, even demolishing mud-brick homes on the outskirts of the capital in their document checks. Human Rights Watch has expressed concerns over the targeted deportations, claiming that many of those being deported are awaiting resettlement in other countries, including the United States. They have also raised awareness about the threats and abuse faced by migrants from Pakistani officials.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has expressed extreme alarm over Pakistan’s deportation announcement. Over the years, there have been several waves of Afghan migration to Pakistan, including during the Soviet invasion in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as during the U.S. withdrawal in 2021.

Pakistan’s justification for the crackdown due to terrorism concerns resonates with the concerns of Republicans and immigration hawks in the United States. Lawmakers in the U.S. have raised concerns about potential terrorism threats at the southern border, suggesting that foreign nationals may attempt to enter the U.S. through this route. They have pointed to the large number of border crossings and encounters with individuals on the terror watch list as evidence.

Furthermore, a Customs and Border Protection memo has warned about the potential entry of fighters associated with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah into the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security’s threat assessment for fiscal year 2024 has also highlighted an increasing number of encounters with individuals on the terror watch list. Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the vetting process for Afghans being paroled into the U.S.

The Biden administration has extended temporary protected status to Afghanistan and redesigned it, providing protection from deportation and allowing nationals already in the U.S. to apply for work permits, considering the conditions in their home country.

When asked about Pakistan’s deportation initiative, White House spokesman John Kirby stated that nations should do their best to assist refugees and asylum seekers, but did not directly comment on Pakistan’s policies. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat, criticized the deportations as a violation of the right to asylum and a potential death sentence for many Afghans who would be targeted by the Taliban.

Overall, Pakistan’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, particularly Afghan nationals, has sparked concern from human rights organizations and drawn comparisons to the debate surrounding illegal immigration and terrorism in the United States.