A Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks a Planned Deportation Flight of About 150 Afghans Through Pakistan as the Taliban Voices 'Serious Concern,' Breitbart Reports
Judge Valerie Caproni's order bars any such flight from leaving the U.S. until Sunday. The detainees include people with criminal records and others who fear persecution. DHS will not discuss the plan.
A federal court in New York has paused a reported U.S. plan to deport more than 150 detained Afghans through Pakistan, Breitbart reports.
The order. Breitbart says the Southern District of New York issued a temporary order Tuesday blocking the flight. Judge Valerie Caproni's order says no such deportation flights may leave the country until Sunday. Breitbart notes that the New York Times called her reasoning "sparse." It adds that other judges have separately delayed the removals of individual Afghans.
The plan. The Associated Press reported Friday, based on court documents, that the administration planned to send detained Afghans back via Pakistan, with flights from Louisiana as early as Monday. Because the U.S. has no formal relations with the Taliban government, the route runs through Pakistan, whose embassy declined to comment.
Who is on the list. Breitbart, citing the New York Times, says the group mixes people who entered legally and illegally, and some with criminal records. One example is a 47-year-old man who came in 1981, served time for two felonies, lost his residency, and says he fears for his life as a gay man.
The Taliban's response. Its foreign ministry said Monday it has "serious concern" and is ready to "engage constructively" to avoid mass deportations, and said third countries should not "bargain over the fate" of Afghan nationals. Breitbart points out that many of the detainees fear the regime.
The advocates. Human Rights First's Savitri Arvey called the plan "beyond egregious" in comments to the Associated Press.
DHS position. Breitbart quotes the department as saying ICE "does not comment on prospective removal operations."
What we could not check. We have not seen the court order, the flight plan or the detainees' files. The number comes from press reports, and the administration has not confirmed the plan.