I’m writing to you today with deep concern and a simple request: Please speak out against the detention of Sayed, a U.S.-affiliated Afghan ally, and demand accountability from the Department of Homeland Security.
Sayed was detained by ICE at a courthouse in San Diego on June 12, 2025—despite having followed every legal step. He entered the United States through a scheduled CBP One appointment, has a pending Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) application, an active asylum claim, no criminal record, and complied fully with court instructions. And yet, masked ICE agents arrested him immediately after his hearing with no due process, no warning, and no explanation beyond the vague phrase that his Notice to Appear was “improvidently issued.”
This is not an isolated incident. It reflects a broader, deeply troubling pattern:
• DHS has ended the Enduring Welcome program, which previously relocated thousands of Afghan allies each month.
• The Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) has been disbanded.
• Refugee processing, TPS for Afghans, and humanitarian parole pathways have all been terminated.
• Afghan allies are being left without options—and now, without protection.
These actions represent a betrayal of our national promise to those who risked everything to stand with our military and diplomatic missions in Afghanistan. Detaining our allies mid-process sends a chilling message to those who believed in America’s word.
I urge you to publicly call for Sayed’s immediate release, demand an end to ICE’s use of “improvidently issued” as a pretext for detention, and push DHS to prohibit the detention of parole-compliant Afghan allies with active legal cases unless a public safety risk is clearly documented.
I also urge you to support congressional oversight into courthouse arrests of Afghan parolees and advocate for a durable, humane path forward for Afghans still in the pipeline.
I am proud to be part of a country that has welcomed allies in times of war. But we are on the brink of losing that legacy. Please be a voice for those who stood with us. Please help Sayed. Thanks.
First sent on June 19 by Jess Craven
