Philly-Afghan Info Hub Newsletter, July 20, 2026

US / National News

1. Iran and U.S. Tensions

• Iran and the U.S. continued to exchange strikes with each other throughout the past week. 
• Both sides have primarily targeted civilian infrastructure. The U.S. has been targeting bridges, water desalination plants, electrical plants and IRGC bases. Meanwhile, Iran has attacked an airbase in Jordan, a power and desalination plant in Kuwait, U.S. bases and a data center in Bahrain, a U.S. base in Saudi Arabia and Northern Iraq.
• Iran has also declared that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran is no longer in effect. Days prior, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the MOU was over.

Why it matters: The continued escalation between Iran and the U.S. could increase regional instability and create further risks for civilians, especially through damage to essential infrastructure and disruptions to daily life.

2. USCIS Can Consider Public Benefit Use in Green Card Decisions

• A green card regulation which narrowed how USCIS.officers applied the public charge test has been rescinded. 
• This screening tool determines whether applicants are likely to need public benefits in the future. If so, these applicants could be deemed as inadmissible.
• Public benefits can include housing assistance, medicaid and food stamps.
• USCIS officers will now be able to conduct reviews considering an applicant's age, health, family status, assets, financial resources, education, skills and whether the person has received public benefits.
• The new rule will take effect on Sept. 18. Those who fill out their applications before that date, will not be subject to the rule change.

Why it matters: Changes to the public charge review process may affect how some immigrants’ applications for permanent residency are evaluated, especially for applicants who have used or may need certain public benefits.

3. Another Person Dies During Immigration Arrest

• Days after two people were killed during separate arrests in Texas and Maine, another man from Florida was killed during an immigration arrest. 
• The 28-year-old Mexican national was hit by a tractor trailer, after fleeing immigration officers.
• The man, along with three other individuals, had an “encounter” with ICE and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The four men fled from the agents, and shortly after the 28-year-old was hit when crossing a street.
• This is the 10th death involving encounters by immigration officers since Trump launched his deportation campaign.
• In relation to immigration officers, an off-duty employee at an ICE detention center in Aurora, Colorado shot a woman protesting the detention center. Brandon Booth, the GEO Group employee who shot the woman was arrested. The woman is fine, but was injured.

Why it matters:Deaths and injuries connected to immigration enforcement encounters have raised concerns about the safety of immigration operations, the use of force, and the treatment of migrants and communities affected by enforcement actions.

4. Trump Administration Aims to End International Criminal Court

• The U.S. State Department, run by Marco Rubio, announced the intent to weaken or dismantle the International Criminal Court (ICC).
• The ICC is composed of 124 countries, with its role to hold accountable the war criminals of member countries that are unable or unwilling to prosecute on their own.
• ICC has not looked into alleged crimes in the U.S., but has looked into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is also investigating American involvement overseas, including war crimes in Afghanistan. 
• Rubio stated in a Wall Street Journal op-ed article, that he fears a world in which U.S. military, law enforcement, and leaders would be subject to international laws they cannot control.
• In the beginning of Trump’s second administration, sanctions were imposed on ICC officials involved in the investigations of the U.S. and its allies. The State Department could potentially revoke more visas, put travel bans on ICC officials and further increase sanctions. The U.S. is also trying to get other allied countries involved in this campaign against the ICC.

Why it matters:The ICC plays a role in international accountability for serious crimes. Changes to U.S. policy toward the court could affect global efforts to investigate alleged human rights violations and shape how international law is enforced.

Philadelphia / Local News

1. Wildfire Smoke Causes Bad Air Quality

• Due to the wildfires in Minnesota and Canada, wildfire smoke spread throughout Great Lakes, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic areas. 
• Between Thursday and Saturday the air quality was warned to be unhealthy and it was advised to avoid being outdoors for too long.
• Children, older adults, pregnant people, immunocompromised people, people experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs, people without access to air filtration, and outdoor workers.and people with underlying heart or lung conditions are most vulnerable.
• Here are some ways to deal with bad air quality in the future. People can also use an N95 mask.
• The air quality has currently improved in the Greater Philadelphia Area, but the states around the Great Lakes continue to deal with the wildfire smoke.

Why it matters: Wildfire smoke can travel long distances and affect communities far from the original fires. Poor air quality can create serious health risks, especially for vulnerable groups, making it important for residents to monitor air quality alerts and take precautions.

Afghanistan / Diaspora News

1. 41 Countries Condemn Taliban Restrictions on Women and Girls

• Representatives from 41 UN member states condemned the Taliban’s “systematic oppression” and discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan.
• The countries said Taliban policies violate international law and called for stronger international support for accountability efforts.
• The statement highlighted continued bans on girls’ education, restrictions on women’s work, limited access to healthcare and public life, and reports of harassment, arrests, and violence.
• The countries urged the international community to prioritize restoring the rights and dignity of Afghan women and girls.

Why it matters: Afghan women and girls continue to face severe restrictions on education, work, and daily life. International pressure and accountability efforts remain key issues in discussions about Afghanistan’s future.

2. Taliban Reports Brief Loss of Control Over District in Badakhshan

• The Taliban confirmed that armed attackers briefly took control of Yaftal-e Payeen district in northeastern Badakhshan province, marking the first reported capture of a district center by anti-Taliban fighters since 2021.
• The Taliban said the attackers took control for several hours before fleeing after Taliban forces arrived.
• A newly formed armed group called “Sepahian-e Mihan” (Soldiers of the Homeland) claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted Taliban administrative, police, and intelligence offices.
• Taliban officials said several people involved in the attack were arrested, while the group continues searching for others.
• Badakhshan has remained one of Afghanistan’s more unstable regions, with ongoing armed opposition, local conflicts, and disputes over resources.

Why it matters: The incident shows that armed opposition groups continue to challenge Taliban control in some parts of Afghanistan, despite the Taliban’s claims that no major threat exists against its rule.

3. Five Bodies Found After Afghan Migrants Go Missing in Desert

• Nineteen Afghan nationals attempting to travel irregularly to Iran went missing in the Margho Desert in Nimroz province. So far, the bodies of five people have been found, while search efforts continue for the remaining 14.
• Taliban forces began a search operation by helicopter after the group disappeared while attempting to cross the desert toward Iran.
• The identities and home provinces of the victims have not yet been confirmed.
• Similar incidents have been reported in recent months, as many Afghans attempt dangerous journeys to Iran due to poverty, unemployment, and limited opportunities.
• Irregular migration routes expose migrants to risks including extreme weather, violence, exploitation by smugglers, and death.

Why it matters: The deaths highlight the dangers many Afghans face while seeking economic opportunities outside the country. Economic hardship and limited legal migration options continue to push people toward risky journeys.