US appeals court provisionally maintains protected status for Afghans.

A U.S. appeals court has temporarily halted an attempt by President Donald Trump’s administration to remove temporary protected status from thousands of Afghans in the United States, as indicated by court documents, giving them additional time to present their case.

On Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an administrative stay on the termination until July 21, in response to a request from the immigration advocacy group CASA. The organization’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security contested the cancellation of temporary protected status for Afghans and Cameroonians announced by the administration in April.

The DHS did not quickly reply to a request for comment. When the announcement was made in April, it indicated that the situations in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer justified the protected status.

The TPS program offers safeguards against deportation and grants work permits lasting from six to 18 months for individuals from nations affected by natural disasters, armed conflict, or other exceptional circumstances.

The homeland security secretary can renew the status. Trump’s attempt to terminate the majority of TPS enrollment during his initial term from 2017 to 2021 was blocked by federal courts. CASA requested an emergency stay on Monday, coinciding with the ending of protections for Afghans, while those for Cameroonians were scheduled to expire on August 4, according to the court filing.

The group stated that the action was capricious and biased, asserting it would inflict “irreparable harm” on those impacted, as it sought a pause while the appeals move forward. The administration has until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday (0359 GMT on Thursday) for a reply.

The stay was not a conclusive choice, but allowed time for the legal dispute, stated Shawn VanDiver, founder of AfghanEvac, the primary coalition of veterans and advocacy organizations that facilitates resettlements alongside the government.

Following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, the United States airlifted over 82,000 Afghans from Afghanistan, with over 70,000 gaining temporary “parole” status for legal entry into the U.S. for two years.

Rights activists have stated that numerous Afghans who assisted the United States during its conflict in Afghanistan would face Taliban retaliation if they went back. Rights groups state that women are especially at risk, as the Taliban have restricted their rights since regaining power following the U.S. withdrawal.