A federal judge blocks Afghan deportations to Afghanistan or Pakistan for detained Afghan nationals, at least through Saturday, November 7, 2026. U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni issued the order in New York on Tuesday, November 3, according to the Associated Press (AP) and ABC News.
At Campos Law Firm, we closely monitor developments in U.S. immigration policy to protect our clients’ rights and future. The ruling comes days after court documents revealed the plan to deport Afghans through Pakistan. Below, we explain what is known, what is not, and what you can do.
What did Judge Valerie Caproni order?
The judge issued a temporary restraining order barring the government from removing detained Afghans to Afghanistan or to Pakistan, from where they could be sent on to Afghanistan. According to NOTUS, the lawsuit was filed by Project Rousseau, a New York nonprofit that provides legal services to immigrants.
In court, government lawyers said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had “no planned or confirmed chartered or commercial flights” to either country before the weekend. The judge ordered the administration to adhere to that representation, noting that “it takes weeks to make such arrangements,” ABC News reported.
Did the November 3 flight leave?
There is no report that it did. Human Rights First had said it confirmed a flight from Louisiana to Pakistan for November 3, but that same day the government told the court no flights were scheduled that week. “A week ago, there was a plane. Today, the government told a federal judge there isn’t one,” said Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac.
ICE said it does not comment on prospective removal operations, including flight schedules or destinations. According to reports, more than 80 detained Afghans reached out to lawyers and rights groups after receiving notices that they could be sent through Pakistan; they include women, religious minorities, and relatives of people who served with the U.S. military.
Does the judge’s order block all Afghan deportations?
No. This is temporary, limited protection. It covers removals to Afghanistan or Pakistan, not to other countries, and it expires on Saturday, November 7, unless the judge extends it or replaces it with another order. One outlet reported the block runs “until at least Sunday,” so it is worth following the docket day by day.
Public reports also do not make clear whether the order protects every detained Afghan in the country or only those who are part of the lawsuit. That is why VanDiver called it “a reprieve, not a resolution.” Your relative should not assume they are covered until an attorney confirms it.
What should you check if a relative from Afghanistan is detained?
The order buys a few days worth using well. Withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) bar deportation to the country named in the immigration judge’s order, not to every country, as we saw in the case of the Venezuelan woman deported to the Central African Republic. These points help prepare the case:
- Location and A-Number: look up your relative in the ICE detainee locator and write down their registration number and facility.
- Destination notices: keep any ICE notice that mentions Pakistan or Afghanistan, with the date and how it was delivered.
- Protection order: request a copy of the removal order and of any withholding or CAT decision, and check which country it covers.
- Fear of return: if they fear persecution or torture in Pakistan or Afghanistan, they should say so clearly and ask for a fear interview.
- Ties to the U.S.: gather proof of work with the military, contractors, or U.S. organizations, and of any Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) application.
- Representation: confirm in writing who their attorney is and whether they are part of the lawsuit or have their own filing, such as a motion to reopen or a habeas corpus petition.
Our immigration attorneys can review the order and deadlines before the protection expires.
Protect Your Immigration Status with Campos Law Firm
An order that lasts four days does not remove the underlying risk, but it does give families time to organize documents and file the remedies that apply. Every case is different and depends on what your relative’s order says. Campos Law Firm is here to help you.
Do not leave your immigration status to chance. Call us today at +1 (844) 922-6767 to schedule a free, confidential consultation in English or Spanish. Campos Law Firm: Legal Solutions in All Areas of Law.
With information from the Associated Press, ABC News, Arab News and NOTUS.
