SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A Sacramento community is living in fear after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained at least two Afghan refugees, according to multiple advocacy groups. This comes as a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administrations plan to deport roughly 150 Afghan nationals.
The Sacramento region has one of the largest Afghan communities in the United States.
Shawn Vandiver, president and founder of Afghan Evac, said, “These are folks who served alongside of Americans, have become Americans have believed in the idea of America.” Vandiver explained that he learned of the deportation plans and brought it to the attention of Democratic Rep. Scott Peters.
Peters and dozens of lawmakers sent a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin calling for the deportation of Afghans to stop.
“Advocates say relatives of Afghans who worked alongside American forces were included,” Rep. Doris Matsui said. “Some are on that list because this administration made the shameful choice to take away their protected status.”
LIVE | Doris Matsui, Afghan community on ICE arrestsWatch on
Vandiver highlighted the contributions of those affected, saying, “These are folks who served alongside of Americans, who have become Americans, [and] have believed in the idea of America.”
One of those concerned is Nesar Ahamad, a former interpreter for American troops in Afghanistan and a member of the Afghan American Alliance.
“It made me feel sick to my stomach,” Ahamad said. “I’m frustrated because anyone on that flight could be me.”
Ahamad expressed his fears for other Afghan refugees, saying, “Now imagine they came here with a promise that they will be safe, but they’re not safe. They’re being sent literally to the hand of the people that they fought against helping American missions.”
KCRA 3 reached out to both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE regarding the reported detentions and deportations. DHS stated that it “follows all lawful court orders.”
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