Federal Judge Blocks Trump Plan to Deport Afghan Nationals
Judge Valerie Caproni temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to deport approximately 200 Afghan nationals via Pakistan to Afghanistan.
A federal judge in New York has temporarily blocked the Donald Trump administration's plan to deport approximately 200 Afghan nationals. Judge Valerie Caproni of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York issued the order on Tuesday, preventing a flight from departing Alexandria, Louisiana, until this Saturday.
Federal court filings revealed the administration intended to use Pakistan as a transit hub to transfer detainees across the border to Afghan authorities. The plan drew sharp criticism from 67 members of Congress, including Representative Scott Peters, who warned that deportees—including a gay man and a Christian female journalist—could face "persecution, torture, or even death" under the Taliban.
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement official Christopher George stated that no flights were planned or confirmed through the end of the week. While the administration argues that many targeted individuals have exhausted their legal options, lawyers for the detainees contend that using a third country for transit violates international treaties. The judiciary remains divided on the issue, with some judges ordering releases on human rights grounds while others have denied emergency protection.
