U.S. judge temporarily blocks deportation of detained Afghans to Afghanistan or Pakistan

MIAMI A federal judge in New York temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s plans to deport Afghans detained in the United States to Afghanistan or Pakistan on Tuesday (November 3, 2026), after advocates and dozens of members of Congress warned that their lives would be at risk. The government told the court on Tuesday (November 3, 2026) that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had no chartered or commercial flights to deport Afghan nationals to Afghanistan or Pakistan at least until the end of the week.

Judge Valerie Caproni’s order, which expires on Saturday (November 7, 2026), directs officials to adhere to that statement. ICE books deportation flights weeks in advance.

A letter led by California Democratic Representative Scott Peters and signed by 65 other members of the House and Senate said they were “extremely concerned that sending vulnerable people” would expose them to “persecution, torture, or even death”. The letter was sent on Monday (November 2, 2026) to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.