Valerie Caproni, a federal judge in New York, has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plans to deport Afghan nationals to their homeland or to Pakistan. The decision was issued Tuesday, Nov. 3, after warnings from human rights organizations and members of Congress, who pointed to the risk of persecution, torture and death for those deported. The order is to remain in effect through Saturday, Nov. 7.
The ruling requires U.S. authorities to abide by a statement they made earlier to the court, under which U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not planning any charter or commercial flights to deport Afghans to Afghanistan or Pakistan through at least the end of the week.
According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, the U.S. administration was preparing transports of detained Afghan nationals from Louisiana to Pakistan. Louisiana is home to detention centers and ICE facilities that handle deportation proceedings.
The day before the ruling, Democratic Rep. Scott Peters of California and 65 other members of the House of Representatives and the Senate sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The lawmakers warned that deporting some Afghan nationals to a country controlled by the Taliban regime could expose them to persecution, torture and even death. Human Rights First and AfghanEvac voiced similar concerns. According to their representatives, more than 80 Afghans held in U.S. detention centers contacted them after receiving notifications from ICE.
Among those facing deportation are women, a former police officer, members of religious minorities and people whose relatives served in the U.S. armed forces. The organizations say most of them left Afghanistan out of fear of persecution, and many of the detainees do not have access to a lawyer.
Afghanistan’s authorities have also expressed concern about the U.S. administration’s plans. Zia Ahmad Takal, deputy spokesman for the country’s Foreign Ministry, called on the United States to respect the rights of people subject to deportation proceedings and their lawful claims.
The court’s order is temporary and does not make a final determination on whether the planned deportations are permissible.
Editor: JŁ
Source: Nowy Dziennik
