US Immigration Detains Afghan Refugees Despite Federal Court Halt on Deportation Flights

The United States Immigration Department arrested two Afghan refugees in Sacramento, California, on Saturday, despite a federal court earlier issuing a temporary injunction to halt deportation flights of Afghan refugees to Pakistan until November 6. The federal court ruling in the Southern District of New York, issued by Judge Valerie Caproni, only restricts deportation flights and does not prevent arrests carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The detention of these two individuals has raised concerns among the Afghan community residing in Sacramento, who fear that the detainees could be sent back to Afghanistan, where they may face serious risks. Local Sacramento media reported that on Friday, November 4, members of the Afghan community held a protest in response to the refugee arrests. Refugee rights activists have warned that former US military allies could face persecution and harassment if returned to Afghanistan. Sean Van Dyke, founder of the refugee support organization Afghan Evac, criticized the ongoing detention of Afghan deportees who entered the United States legally, emphasizing that while the court ruling halts deportation flights, it does not stop continued detentions. According to the Migration Policy Institute, more than 20,000 Afghan refugees live in Sacramento from 2020 to 2024. California also hosts nearly 35.6 percent of the total Afghan refugee population in the United States.