Masked ICE agents detain former Afghan who helped US military
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -An Afghan who moved to the United States after working for the U.S. military in his home country was seized by armed, masked immigration agents, put in a van and taken out of state, attorneys and members of Congress said on Tuesday.
Identified only as Zia by members of Congress and his attorney out of concern for his safety and that of his family, the man had worked as an interpreter for the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan.
He was in the United States legally and was arrested after an appointment in Connecticut related to his application for a green card under a program to protect people who worked for U.S. forces, according to human-rights advocates, his attorney and members of Congress.
Since starting his second term in January, Republican President Donald Trump has pursued a broad crackdown on immigration.
"What happened to him is the worst kind of abhorrent violation of basic decency," Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut told reporters on a call with advocates to draw attention to the case of Zia and at least two other Afghans who worked for the U.S. and have been seized by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
"He actually worked and risked his life in Afghanistan to uphold the values and rights that are central to democracy," Blumenthal said.
Blumenthal and two other Democrats, representatives Jahana Hayes, who serves Zia's district in Connecticut, and Bill Keating, who represents the Massachusetts city where Zia is being held, all pledged to fight for his release.
A judge has issued a temporary stay preventing Zia's removal from the United States, but he remains in detention.
ALLEGATIONS, DENIED BY ATTORNEY
Asked for comment, the Department of Homeland Security said the Afghan national entered the U.S. on October 8, 2024, and is under investigation for a "serious criminal allegation," adding, "All of his claims will be heard by a judge. Any Afghan who fears persecution is able to request relief."
The emailed statement from DHS provided no further details.
Zia's attorney, Lauren Petersen, said he was approved for humanitarian parole in 2024 due to a direct threat from Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. She said he has no criminal history and, when asked about DHS's saying he was under investigation for a "serious criminal allegation," she said she had no understanding of what they were referring to.
Humanitarian parole is a form of temporary permission under American law to be in the country for "urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit," allowing recipients to live and work in the United States.
More than 70,000 Afghans entered the U.S. under former Democratic President Joe Biden's "Operation Allies Welcome" initiative following the Taliban takeover in 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The Trump administration's immigration crackdown has included mass deportations and reversing "temporary protected status" granted to people already in the U.S. who cannot return to their home countries due to armed conflicts, natural disasters or other extraordinary events.
U.S. agencies have moved to terminate that status for some 14,600 Afghans.
Shawn VanDiver, the founder of #AfghanEvac, the main coalition of veterans and advocacy groups that coordinated resettlements of Afghans with the U.S. government, said on the call with reporters and lawmakers that he was aware of at least two other Afghans detained after being admitted to the United States because they had worked for the U.S. military.
He said his group, and veterans organizations, were working for their release.
"It's about whether this country honors its word to those who risk everything," he said.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Don Durfee, Nia Williams and Matthew Lewis)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
11 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Teenager who recently left psychiatric hospital arrested for allegedly killing mother
The crime was committed while the mother was performing the Zuhur prayer. A preliminary investigation found that NR had recently returned home last Wednesday after receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital. - Photo credit: AGENCY KOTA BENGKULU – An 18-year-old teenager has been arrested for allegedly murdering his mother with a pestle and mortar in a shocking incident at their home on Saturday. The victim, identified as YT, 49, died at the hand of her son in the Panorama sub-district of Singaran Pati, Bengkulu. According to the head of the Gading Cempaka Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Iptu Putra Agung, the crime was committed while the mother was performing the Zuhur prayer. "The suspect, NR, was arrested after authorities received a complaint from a neighbour," he said. A preliminary investigation found that NR had recently returned home last Wednesday after receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital. A neighbour named Ice stated that the suspect confessed to the murder, claiming he was possessed. Ice also said that NR had asked her to look after his siblings after the incident. The victim's body has been taken to Bhayangkara Hospital in Bengkulu for an autopsy. - AGENCY More Like This
Free Malaysia Today
13 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Japan's Ishiba signals talks with Trump for early cut to US auto tariff
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba drew criticism from some opposition lawmakers for not having signed an official document with the US. (EPA Images pic) TOKYO : Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said today he will not hesitate to hold talks with President Donald Trump to ensure an agreed cut to US automobile tariffs is implemented soon. In a parliament session today, Ishiba drew criticism from some opposition lawmakers for not having signed an official document with the US. in clinching a trade deal last month. 'Creating a document could have delayed the timing of tariff cuts. That was our biggest fear,' Ishiba said, defending Japan's decision to agree on a deal without creating an official document with the US. 'He is not a typical counterpart and could overturn rules,' Ishiba said of Trump's negotiating style. Ishiba said he had 'absolutely no hesitation' to hold talks with Trump to have Washington execute the tariff cut soon, though he declined to comment on when such talks could take place. 'Both countries will begin executing what was agreed upon, which is harder than agreeing on a deal,' Ishiba said, signaling his intention to stay on as premier to see through the process. Ishiba is under pressure from within his ruling Liberal Democratic Party to step down as prime minister to take responsibility for the party's huge defeat in last month's upper-house election. Japan's trade deal struck with Trump last month lowers US tariffs on imports of goods including automobiles, easing the pain for the export-reliant economy. However, there is no clarity on when US tariffs for automobiles and auto parts will be cut to 15% from the current 25%, clouding the outlook for Japan's fragile recovery. In the same parliament session, Japan's top trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, said it was hard to say how soon the US could actually implement automobile tariffs, though he added it took 'more than a month' in the case of Britain.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Undocumented migrants face homelessness amid Trump's LA crackdown
BUENA PARK: When her husband was arrested in an immigration raid near Los Angeles last month, Martha was abruptly separated from the father of her two daughters. But she also lost the salary that allowed her to keep a roof over their heads. 'He's the pillar of the family... he was the only one working,' said the undocumented woman, using a pseudonym for fear of reprisals. Los Angeles, where one-third of residents are immigrants, has been destabilized by intensifying Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids under the Trump administration. Since returning to power, US President Donald Trump has delivered on promises to launch a wide-ranging deportation drive, targeting undocumented migrants but also ensnaring many others in its net. After her husband's arrest, 39-year-old Martha has joined the ranks of people barely managing to avoid ending up on the streets of Los Angeles County, a region with prohibitively high housing prices and the largest number of homeless people in the United States outside New York. Her 700-square-foot apartment in Buena Park costs $2,050 per month. 'I have to pay car insurance, phone, rent, and their expenses,' she said, pointing to her six- and seven-year-old daughters, who need school supplies for the new academic year. 'That's a lot of expenses.' Los Angeles has seen some of the worst of the ICE raids. Squads of masked agents have targeted hardware stores, car washes, and bus stops, arresting more than 2,200 people in June. About 60 percent of these had no prior criminal records, according to internal ICE documents. Andrea Gonzalez, deputy director of the CLEAN Carwash Workers Center, warns of a growing crisis. 'A bigger storm is brewing. It's not just about the people that got picked up, it's about the people that are left behind as well,' she said. Local Democratic Party leaders are trying to establish financial aid for affected families. Los Angeles County is planning a dedicated fund, and city officials will launch another using philanthropic donations. Some families should receive 'a couple hundred' dollars, Mayor Karen Bass said. But Gonzalez argues these initiatives do not 'even scratch the surface' of what is needed. She called for a 'moratorium on evictions' similar to one introduced during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Maria Martinez's undocumented immigrant husband was arrested in June at a carwash in Pomona. Since then, the 59-year-old has had to rely on help from her children to pay her $1,800 monthly rent. 'It is stressful,' she said. 'We're just getting by.' - AFP
