A New York federal judge has issued a temporary block on plans to deport detained Afghans to Afghanistan or Pakistan following warnings of life-threatening risks.
A federal judge in New York has issued a temporary block on President Donald Trump’s administration plans to deport Afghans detained in the United States to Afghanistan or Pakistan. The decision, issued on Tuesday, follows warnings from advocates and dozens of members of Congress that the individuals' lives would be at risk.
Judge Valerie Caproni issued the order, which is set to expire this Saturday. According to reports from the Associated Press, there are currently no deportations planned before the expiration of the order.
The legal action follows a letter sent on Monday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The letter was led by California Democratic Rep. Scott Peters and was signed by 65 other members of the House and Senate.
In the letter, the lawmakers stated they were “extremely concerned that sending vulnerable people” would expose them to “persecution, torture, or even death.”
Additionally, immigrant rights organizations have warned that individuals deported under the administration's plan could face retaliation from the Taliban. The reports note that thousands of Afghans fled persecution and feared for their lives after providing assistance to the U.S. military and aid groups in Afghanistan.
During a hearing on Tuesday, the government’s lawyer addressed the court regarding the logistics of the proposed deportations. According to the lawyer, Christopher George, the deputy assistant director for Enforcement and Removal Operations in Immigration and Customs Enforcement, stated that ICE “had no planned or confirmed chartered or commercial flights for the purposes of deporting Afghan nationals” to Afghanistan or to Pakistan, “at least to the end of this week.”
The government further stated that ICE typically books these flights weeks in advance.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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