Afghan Man who Worked as Interpreter for US Army Detained by ICE

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

An Afghan man who once helped the U.S. military abroad is being held in ICE detention after his arrest Thursday.

Posted by retort at 11:34 AM | 16 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

An Afghan man who worked as a translator for the U.S. military during the war was detained by ICE after showing up for a hearing inside of a federal courthouse in San Diego, his attorney says. He fears that if he returns to Afghanistan, he would be tortured or even killed, @nbcsandiego.com reports.

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-- NBC News (@nbcnews.com) Jun 16, 2025 at 9:01 PM

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Just yesterday humtake was saying that Trump only wants to get rid of the "problem children" and that Dems are creating their own reality.

I'm wondering what the justification will be for this man who has his immigration case pending in federal court and who entered legally by seeking refugee status after he put his own life at risk to help the US in Afghanistan.
What is the justification for the Trump administration using this same tactic against hundreds of thousands of other refugees who entered legally and had protected status until Trump decided, without cause, to revoke that status?

That's the question that MAGATS won't answer because they know the answer is ugly and that Trump's actions are based on his racist views.

#1 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-06-18 12:53 PM | Reply

I remember back in 2021 when El Pollo Taco was hyperventilating over "Biden leaving our Afghan partners" on the runway at the airport due to the withdrawal plan Taco authorized.

#2 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-06-18 12:55 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

No warrant? ILLEGAL DETENTION.

Start cranking out those lawsuits.

#3 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-06-18 12:56 PM | Reply

The US has an ongoing program for Afghans who supported the US. SIV. This guy is no different than any other illegal immigrant. It's like saying since I've done work with Norway, I should have the right to enter Norway under illegal conditions.

Share your thoughts. If you're against restrictions on anyone from anywhere entering the US, that's fine. But let's codify it. Right now, every day, US citizens and those seeking to enter the country legally may spend hours at a border checkpoint or at an airport. So, let's get rid of that. No one likes waiting at borders or at passport control. Why penalize those who are entering the country legally. Especially those who are US citizens.

#4 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-06-18 02:09 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

This guy is no different than any other illegal immigrant. It's like saying since I've done work with Norway, I should have the right to enter Norway under illegal conditions.
#4 | Posted by madbomber

He did enter the country legally. He came in through a legal port of entry where he turned himself in to border agents and requested asylum. This is the same process one would follow if they were seeking refuge in Norway.
www.rescue.org

Trump, without cause, revoked protected status for Afghan refugees less than one month ago. By without cause I mean that conditions haven't improved in Afghanistan to a degree that it is generally safe for refugees to return home.
www.uscis.gov

#5 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-06-18 02:31 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

Decent people should expect no compassion, sympathy, or understanding from trolls and polemicists who spew out rightwing talking points just to defend the hideous status quo and ultimately waste your time.

#6 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-06-18 02:38 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

Context is missing here.

I need to see that before I comment.

#7 | Posted by boaz at 2025-06-19 07:08 AM | Reply

He doesn't worship Jayzus like the "saved" xtians do. There you go.

#8 | Posted by shoeless at 2025-06-19 08:38 AM | Reply

Odds are that Boaz was working with Afghans at some point. Odds are that in 2021, some of them reached out to Boaz trying to get documentation that they had supported US/Coalition forces against the Taliban.

I'm not going to speak for Boaz, but that might be why he said what he said.

How was your time in Afghanistan, shoeless?

#9 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-06-19 11:16 AM | Reply

"He did enter the country legally. He came in through a legal port of entry where he turned himself in to border agents and requested asylum."

Uh-huh?

And why did he not do the SIV route? Albania-->Italy--> final destination?

That's literally why that program exists.

Maybe he thought the Biden policies were still in effect, and you could apply for asylum and stay for as long as you wanted. Avoid the paperwork and formality of the SIV process.

#10 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-06-19 11:19 AM | Reply

I didn't go but my son did and went to Iraq also. The burn pit smoke messed up his lungs bad.

---- shame.

#11 | Posted by shoeless at 2025-06-19 12:00 PM | Reply

Maybe he thought the Biden policies were still in effect..

Or maybe he just realized like millions of others desperately seeking security that the U.S. immigration system is so F-ed due to Congress incompetence and partisan bickering that there is no line no process and no other way.

#12 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-06-19 12:46 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

I didn't go but my son did and went to Iraq also. The burn pit smoke messed up his lungs bad.
---- shame.
#11 | Posted by shoeless at 2025-06-19 12:00 PM

All of my friends that served in Iraq have died from either repercussions to proximity to burn pits or exposure to other chemicals.

Slowly, internal bleeding and it is transported through bodily fluids to their families.

---- shameful, indeed because the military refused to recognize their condition acquired in the line of duty.

#13 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-06-19 05:27 PM | Reply

#10 | Posted by madbomber

He used the program to get an appointment at the border and did what he was directed to do all the way through. He didn't "just show up". Go read. There is a fair amount of information available on this case. It would seem his lawyer made it available. He was to have a court appearance that was cut off by his detention. Regardless, he was not illegally here. He violated no laws and he did things as directed. He served with our military.

#14 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2025-06-19 05:33 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

- He served with our military.

That doesn't seem to mean as much now in Pete's Army.

#15 | Posted by Corky at 2025-06-19 05:39 PM | Reply

#13: Many of my buddies got sick in Iraq too, but less in Afghanistan. Their children were also born with birth defects when they returned from the first deployment in 1990-91. I was lucky in my deployments as I was away from the burn pits and other toxicological hazards that afflicted my comrades. I also knew a USN Vietnam War veteran who suffered awfully from Agent Orange. His exposure apparently came from loading the darned dioxin on the planes.

America is #1 Thanks to Its Veterans!

#16 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-06-19 05:54 PM | Reply