A federal judge in Michigan granted temporary reprieve from deportation on Thursday to more than 100 Iraqi nationals with criminal convictions who were living in the Detroit area. They had argued they could face persecution or torture in Iraq because of their status as religious minorities, The Associated Press reports.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which represented the Iraqis, says they include Christians and Muslims.
"We are thankful and relieved that our clients will not be immediately sent to Iraq, where they face grave danger of persecution, torture or death," ACLU of Michigan Legal Director Michael Steinberg said in a statement. "It would be unconstitutional and unconscionable to deport these individuals without giving them an opportunity to demonstrate the harm that awaits them in Iraq."