ICE Now Detains Special Interpreter Who Aided The US Military

In a controversial move, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a 33-year-old Afghan man, identified as Sayed Naser, who served as an interpreter for the U.S. military in Afghanistan.

The arrest took place on June 12, 2025, following a routine immigration hearing at a federal courthouse in San Diego, California.

The incident, captured on video, has ignited widespread criticism from lawmakers, veterans’ groups, and human rights advocates, who argue it betrays America’s commitment to its Afghan allies.

Naser, who legally entered the U.S. in 2024 via the CBP One app on humanitarian parole, was detained by masked ICE agents immediately after his asylum hearing.

According to court records reviewed by CBS News, Naser has no criminal record in the U.S. or Afghanistan and has been pursuing a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) due to his service with the U.S. military.

The SIV program is designed to protect foreign nationals who worked with U.S. forces in conflict zones like Afghanistan.

Video footage of the arrest shows Naser calmly explaining his service to the U.S. military as agents handcuff him.

“I worked with the U.S. military back in my home country, I have all the documents,” he said, expressing shock at his detention.

“I came here to make a better life.

I didn’t know this was going to happen like this for me.”

Naser’s attorney, Brian McGoldrick, described the scene as intimidating, with armed ICE agents stationed in the courthouse hallway.

McGoldrick challenged the Department of Justice’s motion to dismiss Naser’s asylum case, which would have subjected him to expedited removal.

ICE later provided an arrest warrant signed by an ICE officer, but not a judge, raising questions about the legal basis for the detention.

Naser is currently held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, where he could remain for up to three months while his asylum case is adjudicated.

Further Context of Naser’s Service and Flight

Naser worked as a civilian interpreter for the U.S. military for over three years in Afghanistan, a role that placed him at significant risk.

His attorney reported that the Taliban killed one of Naser’s brothers at a family wedding, prompting his flight from Afghanistan.

Unable to leave during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal in 2021, Naser traveled from Afghanistan to Brazil and then north to the U.S. border, a journey often made on foot.

His legal entry into the U.S. was facilitated through humanitarian parole, and he has since been navigating the complex asylum and SIV processes.

The detention occurs amid a broader immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump’s second term, which began in January 2025.

The administration has pushed for expedited removals and increased ICE operations at courthouses, targeting migrants, including those with legal status or pending applications.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that Naser “entered the U.S. unvetted via the CBP One app under the previous administration in 2024” and claimed there is “nothing in his immigration records indicating that he assisted the U.S. government in any capacity.”

However, Naser’s attorney and court records contradict this, confirming his military service and clean record.

Shawn VanDiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, a coalition of veterans and advocacy groups, highlighted that at least two other Afghans who worked with the U.S. military have been detained under similar circumstances.

“It’s about whether this country honors its word to those who risk everything,” VanDiver said during a call with reporters and lawmakers.

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Public and Political Reaction

The arrest has drawn sharp criticism.

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut called it “the worst kind of abhorrent violation of basic decency.”

Advocacy groups like Unite for Veterans and #AfghanEvac condemned the detention, emphasizing the U.S.’s obligation to protect Afghan allies who face Taliban retribution.

Posts on X reflect public outrage, with one user stating, “This guy HELPED OUR TROOPS.

He hasn’t broken a single law. And yet ICE threw him in detention anyway.”

The viral video of Naser’s arrest, showing masked agents detaining him, has amplified calls for accountability.

Lawmakers have sent a letter to ICE demanding answers about the raid, and veterans’ organizations are actively working to secure Naser’s release.

Naser’s case underscores broader tensions in U.S. immigration policy, particularly regarding Afghan allies who supported American troops.

If denied asylum, Naser faces deportation to Afghanistan, where he risks persecution, torture, or death due to his association with the U.S. military.

His detention has raised questions about the treatment of other Afghan interpreters and the integrity of programs like the SIV, which was intended to safeguard those who aided U.S. forces.

As the controversy unfolds, advocates continue to press for transparency and justice, arguing that Naser’s detention undermines America’s moral and legal commitments to its allies.

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