Pastor Basir, the father of Pastor Ben and a former underground church leader in Afghanistan, baptizes a new believer at Oklahoma Khorasan Church in Oklahoma City. The congregation, made up largely of Afghan Christian refugees, includes families fleeing Taliban persecution. (Courtesy: Oklahoma Khorasan Church)
Department of Homeland (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem cited an "improved security situation" and a stabilizing economy as justification.
"This administration is returning TPS to its original, temporary intent," Noem said. "We’ve reviewed the conditions in Afghanistan with our interagency partners, and they do not meet the requirements for a TPS designation."
Afghans’ protected status is set to expire on May 20, with the program formally ending on July 12.
Noem added that terminating the designation aligns with the administration’s broader goal of rooting out fraud and national security threats in the immigration system.
TPS allows foreign nationals from countries facing armed conflict, natural disasters or other emergencies to live and work legally in the U.S. Then-President Joe Biden had originally designated Afghanistan for TPS following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
Among those at risk are members of Pastor Ben's congregation, many of whom he says undertook perilous journeys to reach the U.S. legally. He recounted the story of a group that he claimed traveled from Brazil to Mexico, including a 76-year-old woman and a 7-month-old girl, waiting ten months in a Mexican church sanctuary for approval to cross the border legally via the CBP One app.
"They didn't have food for weeks, they didn't have water for weeks, but they were willing to wait, face all those difficulties, to come to the United States with legal status," he said. "Now, with the new administration, we heard that those parolees are being revoked. They're not even giving work permits."
CHRISTIANS IN AFGHANISTAN FACE ROUTINE TORTURE, PERSECUTION FROM FAMILY MEMBERS: WATCHDOG GROUPS
Afghan refugees, including recent converts to Christianity, worship during a service at Oklahoma Khorasan Church in Oklahoma City. Many in the congregation are facing deportation despite fleeing Taliban persecution. (Courtesy: Oklahoma Khorasan Church)
Pastor Ben urges fellow Christians to stand in solidarity with their persecuted brothers and sisters.
"They need us today to be their voice," he said. "We have the freedom; they do not. We have all the comfort; they do not. But all they want is the church to be part of it."
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He also addressed President Trump directly: "Mr. President, I fully support your deportation plan because we do not want criminals to live in the United States, but we have to be aware that among those people that you want to deport, some are not criminals. Some are people that are at the risk of being killed, being imprisoned, losing their wives, losing their kids."
"Please, let's not let this happen to them," said Pastor Ben. "Let's keep the American Dream alive."
Fox News Digital's Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
Jasmine is a writer at Fox News Digital and a military spouse based in New Orleans. Stories can be sent to jasmine.baehr@fox.com
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/afghan-christian-pastor-pleads-trump-warns-taliban-revenge-after-admin-revokes-refugee-protections