Arrests of Afghan Asylum Seekers Rise Across the United States
Increasing Detentions Spark Concern
The number of Afghan asylum seekers detained across the United States has risen, including individuals awaiting immigration court hearings and following all required rules, The Guardian reported on Friday.
Lawyers and human rights groups expressed alarm over the detentions, warning they have created fear and insecurity within Afghan refugee communities.
Detentions Extend Beyond Routine Checks
Previously, arrests were mostly linked to routine immigration check-ins. However, recent cases show Afghan asylum seekers being detained directly from their communities. In northern California alone, dozens of such incidents have been reported.
In Indiana, an Afghan national was stopped by an unmarked vehicle while returning from class and taken into custody. In New York, another was detained after voluntarily reporting to an ICE office as required under his release terms.
Compliance Offers No Protection
Lawyers noted that many detainees had fully complied with ICE conditions, including regular reporting and wearing electronic monitoring devices. Despite following these rules, they were detained without prior notice.
Most detained Afghan asylum seekers had requested asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border over the past two years. Others arrived under Operation Allies Welcome, a Biden-era program helping Afghans fleeing the Taliban after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Many were granted humanitarian parole, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. while their asylum claims were processed.
Shala Gafary, managing director of the Afghan Legal Assistance program at Human Rights First, told The Guardian that the arrests “have created a huge chilling effect.” She added, “People don’t feel safe leaving their homes and frequently ask about relocating to Canada or another country.”
Policy Shifts Following Security Concerns
The report noted that after an Afghan man allegedly shot two National Guard members, the Trump administration enacted significant policy changes. These included pausing asylum decisions for nearly 1.5 million people and halting processing of green cards, citizenship applications, and asylum claims from immigrants from 19 countries.
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