• An Afghan interpreter, known as Zia, was detained by ICE agents while applying for a green card in Connecticut.
• Lawmakers have condemned the detainment, calling it an "abhorrent violation of basic decency."
• Zia was previously granted humanitarian parole due to threats from the Taliban.
• His detainment has raised alarms about the treatment of Afghan asylum seekers under current immigration policies.
• More than 70,000 Afghans entered the U.S. under a program to protect those who aided U.S. forces following the Taliban takeover.

An Afghan individual, identified as Zia, was detained by masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a legal appointment concerning his green card application in Connecticut. Zia had legally relocated to the U.S. after serving as an interpreter for the U.S. military during the Afghanistan war, according to Reuters and TRT Global.

Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut criticized the detainment, declaring it "the worst kind of abhorrent violation of basic decency." He emphasized that Zia risked his life in Afghanistan to uphold democratic values, and along with Representatives Jahana Hayes and Bill Keating, pledged to advocate for Zia’s release. They noted that Zia's detainment raises significant concerns about how the U.S. is honoring its commitments to those who supported its military operations, reports Reuters and Dawn.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed that Zia entered the U.S. on October 8, 2024, and is now under investigation for a "serious criminal allegation," though specific details were not provided. This has added an additional layer of complexity and concern regarding his treatment, as noted by Zia's attorney, Lauren Petersen, who stated that Zia has a clean criminal record and was approved for humanitarian parole last year due to threats from the Taliban. She expressed confusion regarding the DHS allegations, citing the absence of clear communication on the matter, according to Dawn, Reuters, and TRT Global.

Humanitarian parole allows individuals facing urgent danger to live and work in the U.S. Zia was applying for a green card to further secure his status. Since the Taliban's takeover in 2021, more than 70,000 Afghans were resettled in the U.S. under the "Operation Allies Welcome" initiative launched by President Biden. However, many are now facing new challenges, including Zia's situation, which echoes wider systemic issues affecting Afghan refugees, as reported by Dawn, Reuters, and TRT Global.