In his first month back in office, President Donald Trump has raised alarms for Afghan allies in the U.S. who have spent years unsuccessfully seeking asylum or permanent residency after the 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The BBC has reported that Afghans have already been deported, and are among the 299 migrants living in a Panamanian hotel without access to legal representation.
Nasib, a former Afghan intelligence officer, was detained two weeks ago during a regular check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I spoke with Susan, the immigration lawyer representing Nasib. (Pseudonyms are being used to protect both against retribution.)
In her practice, Susan has helped hundreds of Afghans seek safety in the U.S. Nasib became her client in February 2024, just weeks after he claimed asylum at the border with Mexico and was paroled into the U.S.
