The court granted Anjomshoa’s habeas corpus petition, holding that the circumstances surrounding the United States’ military engagement with Iran mean there is no significant likelihood of his removal in the reasonably foreseeable future.
Anjomshoa, a native and citizen of Iran, entered the United States without inspection on November 29, 2024. He was issued a final order of removal on September 17, 2025 after an immigration judge affirmed a negative credible fear determination regarding his asylum claim.
He was subsequently detained at the Oldham County Detention Center while the government attempted to implement the removal order.
Respondents initially indicated that Anjomshoa’s removal was likely to occur at the end of March 2026. However, they later reported that the commencement of the United States’s military engagement in Iran created “great uncertainty in Iran,” potentially delaying removal until the conflict winds down.
The court held that Anjomshoa satisfied his burden of showing no significant likelihood of removal in the reasonably foreseeable future. The court noted Iran’s historical uncooperativeness with repatriation efforts, the lack of diplomatic relations, and the absence of travel documents.
The court also took judicial notice of the military conflict, which began on February 28, 2026. Although a ceasefire is in effect, peace talks recently ended without a breakthrough, leaving the conflict with no clear end in sight.
The government failed to rebut this showing by providing concrete facts or a timeline for obtaining travel documents or scheduling a flight. Respondents even acknowledged they could not provide “any assurance” that deportations to Iran would resume even if the conflict ends imminently.
The court ordered Anjomshoa’s immediate release and required respondents to certify compliance by April 18, 2026. The court also enjoined the government from re-detaining him absent proof of changed circumstances making removal reasonably foreseeable.