A U.S. appeals court has blocked for now a bid by President Donald Trump’s administration to strip temporary protected status from thousands of Afghans in the United States, court documents showed, allowing them more time to argue the case, Reuters reported.

Monday’s order by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted an administrative stay on the termination until July 21, following a request from immigration advocacy organization CASA.

The group’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security challenged the termination of temporary protected status for Afghans and Cameroonians unveiled by the administration in April.

The DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At the time of the April announcement, it had said conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer merited the protected status.

The TPS program provides protection against deportation and provides work permits for periods of six to 18 months to those from countries stricken by natural disaster, armed conflict or other extraordinary event, read the report.

The status can be renewed by the homeland security secretary. Trump’s effort to end most TPS enrollment during his first term from 2017 to 2021 was thwarted by federal courts.

CASA sought an emergency stay on Monday, when the protection of Afghans was set to be terminated, while that of Cameroonians was set to end on August 4, the court document showed.

The group said the step was arbitrary and discriminatory and would cause “irreparable harm” to those affected, as it sought a stay while the appeals proceed.

The administration has time until 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday (0359 GMT on Thursday) to respond, Reuters reported.

The stay was not a final decision, but gave time for the legal challenge, said Shawn VanDiver, founder of AfghanEvac, the main coalition of veterans and advocacy groups that coordinates resettlements with the government.

“AfghanEvac stands firmly behind the legal challenge and calls on DHS and the Trump administration to immediately reverse course and extend TPS protections,” VanDiver said in an email.

The United States evacuated more than 82,000 Afghans from Afghanistan after the Islamic Emirate takeover in 2021, of whom more than 70,000 entered the U.S. on temporary “parole,” or legal entry for two years.

Rights advocates have said many Afghans who helped the United States during its war in Afghanistan would be targets if they returned home.

Particularly at risk would be women, whose rights the Islamic Emirate have curbed since their return to power after the U.S. withdrawal, rights groups say.

The United Nations Special Representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, has expressed deep concern over the country’s low literacy rates, stating that Afghanistan ranks among the nations with the highest levels of illiteracy globally.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Kabul Book Festival on Monday, Otunbayeva revealed that only 50% of Afghan men and approximately 20% of Afghan women are literate.

She urged investors and entrepreneurs to play an active role in promoting literacy and supporting the printing and publishing of books within the country.

Meanwhile, Hayatullah Mohajer Farahi, Deputy Minister of Publications at the Ministry of Information and Culture, highlighted the Islamic Emirate’s efforts to promote a culture of reading.

He noted that, under a decree from the Supreme Leader, books printed domestically are now exempt from taxes—a move intended to boost local publishing. He also said the ministry has organized several book fairs to further encourage public interest in reading.

However, educators and cultural figures highlight ongoing challenges that continue to impede progress.

A shortage of public libraries, restricted operating hours at existing ones, and insufficient facilities continue to obstruct efforts to promote a culture of reading.

Ziaur Rahman Laghmani, a university professor, emphasized the transformative power of books, stating: “Nations awaken and progress through books. They are the foundation of character building. A bright future depends on our youth’s engagement with books.”

The Kabul Book Festival takes place amid ongoing restrictions on girls’ education, with schools still closed to girls above the sixth grade and universities remaining off-limits. Experts warn that barring girls from education poses a major barrier to national development and self-reliance, stressing that governments have a duty to ensure inclusive and equitable access to learning for all.

In a touching display of hospitality and inclusion, Kerala’s General Education Minister V. Sivankutty and his wife R. Parvathy Devi hosted an Afghan family for breakfast at their official residence, Rose House, on Sunday, Indian media reported.

The guests — Shafiq Rahimi, his wife Zarghona, and their school-going children — were invited after the minister met the children during a recent visit to Sreekaryam Government High School, where the siblings study. The minister was particularly impressed by Class 6 student Marwa and her siblings, Ahmad Muzamil and Class 3 student Ahmad Mansoor.

The children spoke about their school life and shared their happiness with the facilities available, such as the lift and air conditioning.

Shafeeq Raheemi, the children’s father, is currently a research scholar at the Economics Department at the University of Kerala.