Kurds facing deportation given temporary stay following court order

NASHVILLE, United States (Kurdistan24) – A dozen Kurds from Tennessee who faced deportation back to Iraq have been given temporary stay following a federal court order on Monday.

US District Judge Mark Goldsmith issued a stay of removal for the Iraqi nationals who were at risk of immediate deportation in early June.

The extradition was part of a deal between Washington and Baghdad to keep Iraq off a list of countries banned from traveling to the United States.

The court order will affect about 85 immigrants who were recently detained and expected to be sent back to Baghdad this week.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested several Kurds in Nashville, leading to protests among the Kurdish community in Middle Tennessee.

Immigration rights groups said federal authorities were ignoring the risks of deportation for some of those who might have previously faced persecution in Iraq.

The Kurds in Nashville subject to deportation asked to join the class-action suit in Michigan filed by Detroit’s large Chaldean Christian population.

Goldsmith’s decision on Monday expands the stay to include all Iraqis with final orders of removal nationwide.

The verdict gives the individuals and their families an additional two weeks to file requests to reopen their cases in immigration courts.

ICE pointed out the would-be deportees included men who were convicted of violent assault, drug charges, and other serious crimes.

However, it was previously highlighted some had already served their sentences.

The Iraqi nationals who were detained have to find lawyers and file individual court motions within the next two weeks.