Watch as Congresswoman Doris Matsui calls for halt to Afghan deportations

This week, the Trump administration announced their intention to force Afghan men and women on a plane and send them back to the Taliban. I joined 66 of my colleagues in signing Afghani Vax letter calling for the cancellation of this removal. I'm given hope by the announcement that this flight will not happen this week. Thanks to our advocacy and to all your support. Thank you, Dr. Floyd. But what I'm saying today is we are not stopping here. Only together, only together can we ensure our communities are made whole and protected. Last December, ICE detained Afghan asylum seekers inside the Moss building. Now they are chartering planes. Reports say that more than 150 Afghan community members were slated for removal. Advocates say relatives of Afghans who worked alongside American forces were included. Some are on that list because this administration made the shameful choice to take away their protected status. The United Nations has documented what happens when Afghans tied to the old government are sent back. Arrests, torture, killings. President Trump and Secretary Mullen know that. In an act of bad faith and a lack of humanity, they scheduled this for this election week, hoping that this country would be looking somewhere else. Well, well, Sacramento isn't distracted. Neither is the rest of the nation.