A federal court in New York has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from deporting Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan this week. Judge Valerie Caproni of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York issued the order after advocacy groups raised serious concerns about the safety of people who once worked with American forces.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Assistant Director Christopher George told the court there were currently no planned or confirmed flights, either chartered or commercial, to send Afghan nationals to Afghanistan or Pakistan. The ruling prevents any removals this week while the legal challenge continues.
Reports last week suggested that more than 150 Afghans living in the United States were scheduled for deportation via Pakistan. Many of them are relatives of Afghans who supported the US military before the fall of Kabul in 2021. Groups such as AfghanEvac have been working to protect these former allies and their families.
Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, welcomed the court’s decision. He noted that the sudden change from a planned flight to no flight was the result of pressure from veterans, advocates, members of Congress, and ordinary Americans who spoke out against the removals.
The Afghan Taliban government has also expressed serious concern over the reported plans. Although the regime has repeatedly claimed that former opponents can return safely under a general amnesty, the United Nations continues to document cases of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and other abuses against people linked to the previous government and Western forces.
Advocacy organizations argue that sending these individuals back could put their lives at real risk. The Trump administration has already imposed travel restrictions on several countries, including Afghanistan, and has moved to end certain deportation protections that some Afghans received after the 2021 takeover.
For now, the court order provides temporary relief. Supporters of the blocked plan say the fight is far from over, and they will keep pushing to ensure that people who once stood with American troops are not forced into danger.
