Afghan translator for US troops detained at immigration hearing

Published On: June 25, 2025

Los Angeles Times (TNS) by Summer Lin

After entering the country lawfully and working as a translator for the U.S. military, an Afghan national was arrested during his immigration court in San Diego and is currently being held.

According to video of the event, ICE agents wearing neck gaiters over their faces detained Sayed Naser, whose full name is being suppressed for safety reasons, on June 12 as he was at a San Diego courthouse for a normal immigration hearing.

In the video clip, Naser stated, “I came here to make a better life.” I was employed by the U.S. military. I served with the U.S. military in an extremely hazardous area in Afghanistan.

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According to a news release from AfghanEvac, a nonprofit organization established to facilitate the safe movement of Afghan allies, Naser served as a logistics contractor and interpreter for the U.S. military at military locations in Afghanistan. Naser and his family had to flee Iran when the Taliban assassinated his brother during a wedding in September 2023.

It was not immediately possible to get in touch with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement representative for comment on this case.

According to the announcement, he obtained a humanitarian visa to Brazil and lawfully entered the United States through Mexico in July 2024. When ICE apprehended him, he had already applied for a Special Immigrant Visa, been granted humanitarian release, and was setting up an asylum hearing.

According to the statement, Naser has no criminal history, an open asylum case, and another sibling who was given asylum just weeks prior to Naser’s detention.

According to the release, the U.S. government attempted to have his asylum request dismissed during the hearing, claiming that Naser’s notice to appear was sent out without cause and without providing any further justification. Naser and his lawyer were given time to reply to the application by the judge, who did not dismiss the case.

“This administration just has this 3,000-a-day policy and is blindly grabbing what looks like low-hanging fruit,” said Brian McGoldrick, Naser’s lawyer, “and we’re dismayed that we’re so close to him being granted asylum.” Naser’s asylum hearing was just one hearing away.

Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff at the White House, stated last month that ICE ought to detain at least 3,000 unauthorized migrants every day. McGoldrick was referring to Miller. About 51,000 undocumented migrants were in ICE detention as of early June, which is the most since September 2019.

According to McGoldrick, Naser is being detained at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. According to him, Naser is upset over his imprisonment and worried about not being able to get in touch with his family, who are still hiding in Iran due to an internet shutdown.

Naser believed he would have received better treatment after assisting the U.S. soldiers in the Middle East, according to McGoldrick.

They now wish to bypass the entire procedure, McGoldrick continued.