Afghan Partner Seized by ICE Post-Court Appearance

An Afghan individual who collaborated with U.S. military forces in Afghanistan was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in San Diego.

A captured video shared with CBS News reveals the moment two ICE officials handcuffed and escorted Sayed Naser from a federal courtroom in San Diego after his compulsory immigration hearing on June 11.

"I spent over three years working alongside the U.S. military in Afghanistan," Naser stated in the footage, while the masked officers detained him. "I arrived here seeking a better future. I didn't expect this to happen to me."

Despite having followed all regulations, an Afghan ally legally admitted into the U.S. was nabbed by ICE, using the ambiguous term “improvidently issued” as justification. This needs to be addressed.

Legal parole into the U.S. was granted to Naser in 2024, according to his representative, Brian McGoldrick. He is also involved in both an ongoing asylum petition and a pending Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) application due to his extensive service. SIVs are provided to nationals from regions like Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. As per court documents reviewed by CBS News, Naser holds no criminal past in either country.

"This gentleman worked with our troops, adhered to every protocol, and yet was detained regardless," voiced Shawn VanDiver, leader of #AfghanEvac, an organization supporting U.S. wartime allies. He added that the number of Afghan partners held by ICE remains uncertain.

Requests for comments from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE went unanswered.

From 2015 to 2018, Naser worked as a civilian translator for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Along with his siblings, he co-managed a logistics company that supplied anti-mining services to American troops, according to employment records seen by CBS News.

Documentation from Naser's SIV application mentions, "This employee played a crucial role in delivering exemplary services to our primary clients—the U.S. Military in Afghanistan."

Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, Naser and his family became high-risk targets due to their associations with U.S. forces. In 2023, his brother was killed, and his father was kidnapped by Taliban forces during a family ceremony, forcing his family to leave the country.

"Returning to Afghanistan would mean facing mortal danger, as the Taliban labels anyone who aided foreign troops over the past two decades as spies condemned to death," Naser declared in his asylum statement. His family remains in secrecy outside Afghanistan.

After his brother's assassination, Naser initially found refuge in Brazil, obtaining a humanitarian visa. He undertook a perilous trek exceeding 6,000 miles through the Darién Gap to reach Mexico. By 2024, he arranged an appointment with U.S. Customs and Border Protection via the CBP One app, which facilitates appointment scheduling at legal entry points, consequently being permitted lawful entry into the U.S.

At his required in-person immigration hearing, attended by a judge and a lawyer from the Department of Homeland Security, the DHS attorney labeled Naser's case "improvidently issued."

"The meaning of that term is baffling," commented McGoldrick, who endeavored to contest the determination. However, the DHS representative declined to elaborate.

"'Improvidently issued' appears to be ICE's convenient reason—vague and unchallenged, to manage docket backlogs while meeting removal and detention targets," added VanDiver. "It's increasingly being used to incarcerate lawful asylum seekers."

Upon exiting the courtroom, ICE officials apprehended Naser.

Currently, Naser is detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego. McGoldrick stated that Naser might remain there for up to three months pending his asylum case resolution. If denied asylum, he faces immediate deportation, though his precise deportation destination is unknown, and DHS has not provided additional information.

"He's utterly astonished by this ordeal," McGoldrick expressed.

Naser's spouse, who is in hiding alongside their children, learned about his detention via social media when the video detailing his apprehension surfaced.

Surge in Courthouse Arrests

Law enforcement operations targeting migrants have escalated, with ICE performing more arrests outside courthouse hearings in major U.S. cities recently. In May, reports emerged of the Trump administration initiating actions to expedite deportations by dismissing cases followed by detentions at courthouses nationwide. This move alarmed immigration advocates, as attending court hearings is a legal requirement for clients.

Publicized arrests in Los Angeles led to extended protests as demonstrators clashed with thousands of enforcement officers, including the National Guard.

On a recent Sunday, then-President Trump revealed heightened arrest objectives aimed at achieving what he termed the "most extensive Mass Deportation Operation of Illegal Aliens in History," via his social media platform, Truth Social.

Reports indicate that efforts driven by White House deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, and Homeland Security Secretary, Kristi Noem, strive to exceed deportation benchmarks—up to 3,000 immigration-related arrests per day starting late May.

Typically, ICE necessitates probable evidence to arrest someone based on immigration status inquiries, which involves intricate evidence demonstrating an alleged breach of immigration regulations.

In Naser's situation, the specific evidence insinuating legal violations remains uncertain, his lawyer asserted. A warrant for Naser's detention was presented to his attorney outside the courtroom post-apprehension.

"The situation in courthouses across San Diego and beyond is unsettling," McGoldrick remarked. "Walking through those areas feels akin to approaching execution row, with abundant armed personnel scrutinizing everyone. This environment generates profound fear among our clients."

Uncertain Prospects for Afghan Allies

The Trump administration exhibited a substantial shift away from assisting Afghans formerly engaged with the U.S. government during its prolonged battle with the Taliban.

In May, Secretary Noem announced policy changes leading to the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans. TPS allows individuals from perilous countries to live and work in the U.S. without facing DHS detention. Approximately 11,000 Afghans residing in the U.S. under TPS risk losing these protections by mid-July, as mentioned by VanDiver.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration further limited the entry of individuals from Afghanistan, alongside 11 other nations, citing security concerns. Prior to policy shifts, over 100,000 vetted Afghan wartime allies and their families were ready for U.S. entry, according to #AfghanEvac. They now face barriers, requiring submission of SIV applications and self-funding of travel to the U.S., confronting continued threats from the Taliban.

"With Afghanistan under Taliban rule, the region experiences continuous violence, unwarranted detentions, and persistent human rights violations, particularly against women and minority groups," stated VanDiver. "It's imperative to uphold commitments to our allies; current practices do not align with acceptable immigration policies."