Federal court blocks deportation of more than 150 Afghans

The Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York has temporarily blocked a Trump Administration plan to deport dozens of Afghan immigrants, including at least one woman who would likely face persecution by the Taliban. Congressional Democrats have called on the State Department to cancel the deportation, citing U.S. law that prohibits the deportation of people to countries where they would face torture or persecution. The International Criminal Court last month issued warrants for four Taliban leaders alleging crimes against humanity and citing the persecution of girls and women in the country.