US Judges Temporarily Block Afghan Deportation Efforts

Two federal judges have temporarily halted planned deportations of Afghan nationals held in U.S. immigration detention. In New York, Judge Valerie Caproni barred removals at least through Saturday after lawmakers and advocates warned that return could expose Afghans to Taliban retaliation; the government told the court it had no confirmed deportation flights planned through the end of the week. Separately, a New Mexico judge stayed the removal of Sardar Akbari for 14 days, citing the need for safeguards against suicide risk and ordering his return to New Mexico. Akbari had been moved to a Texas detention facility without his attorneys’ knowledge ahead of a planned flight to Pakistan, which could serve as a route for onward transfer to Afghanistan. The temporary orders do not resolve the broader deportation plans.