Afghan Ally Detained by ICE After Immigration Court Appearance
An Afghan national who provided assistance to U.S. military forces has been taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following his mandatory immigration court hearing in San Diego. Video footage that surfaced shows two ICE officers handcuffing Sayed Naser just outside the federal courthouse on June 11, 2025.
“For more than three years I worked for the U.S. military back in my home country,” Naser said in the recorded clip as officials led him away. “I came here to make a better life. I didn’t know this was going to happen like this for me.”
According to Naser’s legal representative, Brian McGoldrick, he had been legally paroled into the U.S. in 2024. Naser is currently pursuing both an asylum case and a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) because of his extensive background aiding American forces.
Background of Sayed Naser
Naser served as a civilian interpreter for the U.S. military from 2015 to 2018 and co-owned a logistics firm that supported U.S. troops. However, following the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, Naser’s collaboration with American forces rendered him and his family targets for the Taliban.
In a tragic turn of events, Taliban militants killed Naser’s brother and abducted their father during a wedding ceremony. These events forced Naser to flee Afghanistan in 2023 due to the imminent threat on his life. He eventually reached Brazil, where he was granted a humanitarian visa, and then traveled through dangerous terrain to reach Mexico before arriving in the U.S.
Circumstances of Detention
Naser appeared for his first immigration hearing, crucial to his asylum application, but was informed by a Department of Homeland Security attorney that his case was “improvidently issued.” McGoldrick expressed confusion over this vague terminology, which has been utilized by ICE for detaining individuals who comply with legal protocols.
This troubling trend of arrests near courthouses has raised concerns among immigration advocates. Recent assertions suggest that up to 3,000 arrests related to immigration may be undertaken daily, fueling fears among migrants who have complied with legal processes.
| Year | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 – 2018 | Military Service | Served as a civilian interpreter for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. |
| 2021 | U.S. Withdrawal | Taliban resurgence affected the safety of Afghan allies. |
| 2023 | Family Attack | Brother killed and father abducted by Taliban. |
| 2024 | Arrival in U.S. | Granted lawful parole after a lengthy journey. |
| 2025 | Detention | Detained by ICE following an immigration court hearing. |
Future Uncertainty
Naser is currently being held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, where he may remain for up to three months as his asylum claim is processed. If his claim is rejected, he faces expedited removal from the country. His wife, who remains in hiding with their children, learned of his detention through social media, adding to the fears of their uncertain future.
“He’s still in shock. He cannot believe this is happening to him,” McGoldrick said, highlighting the fear and anxiety surrounding ICE’s actions and the broader implications for Afghan allies in the U.S.
