Afghan Interpreter Released from ICE Custody, Reunites with Family in Connecticut

HARTFORD, Conn. — An Afghan interpreter, Zia S., was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody on Tuesday evening after spending 90 days in detention. His release allows him to reunite with his wife and five children in a New Haven suburb.

Zia was arrested by ICE in July outside a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in East Hartford. The incident occurred after he arrived for a routine green card appointment. Following his arrest, he was held at an ICE detention center in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Upon his release on a $15,000 bond, Zia expressed his relief. “A very happy moment,” he said. He was transported home by his brother and a friend, recalling the refreshing sights and sounds of nature that he missed during his confinement.

Lauren Cundick Petersen, Zia’s attorney, highlighted that despite Zia entering the U.S. legally through a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and having received humanitarian parole, he faced uncertainty after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revoked his parole in July.

Petersen is now prioritizing Zia’s applications for asylum status and legal permanent residency. “He can live un-harassed, but others have been re-arrested unexpectedly by ICE,” she warned.

Zia shared his experience of detention, describing it as mentally taxing. He was confined to a small two-person room, only allowed outside for short periods each day. “Days in the detention center are not easy. One day is like one year,” he said.

After returning home, he described the emotional reunion with his family, particularly noting how his wife, noticeably thinner, cried at his return. Zia plans to spend the coming days relaxing and enjoying home-cooked Afghan meals prepared by his wife.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal praised Zia’s release, calling his detention “unlawful and unconscionable” and affirming that those who supported U.S. troops, like Zia, deserve protection. Blumenthal visited Zia during his detention and has pledged to support his legal journey for permanent residency.

In his work as a translator for U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, Zia aided U.S. troops for five years and has faced threats from the Taliban due to his cooperation. Following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, Zia and his family fled to Pakistan seeking safety.

The circumstances surrounding Zia’s detention remain unclear as online federal court documents indicated that the FBI had flagged him for potential national security concerns, a claim his attorney denies. Petersen stated that Zia has no criminal history and posed no threat to the public.

As Zia begins to rebuild his life in Connecticut, he and his family expressed profound gratitude to those who supported them during this challenging time, including Blumenthal and local media.