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Community leaders and elected officials in Ulster County are rallying for the release of Ali Faqirzada, an Afghan asylum seeker detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Faqirzada, who fled Afghanistan in 2022 after the Taliban's return to power, was arrested last month during a routine asylum interview on Long Island. According to the Daily Freeman, Congressman Pat Ryan, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger, and other community leaders have expressed outrage over his detention.
Faqirzada, a Bard College student and hospital security guard, had been pursuing asylum legally. His attorneys argue that returning him to Afghanistan would endanger his life, as he and his family were targeted by the Taliban for their involvement with U.S. agencies. Faqirzada's asylum application had been pending since December 2022, and an immigration judge had previously determined he had a "credible fear" of returning to Afghanistan. Despite this, ICE placed him in expedited removal proceedings, which allow for deportation without a hearing before an immigration judge.
The Times Union reports that Faqirzada's legal team from Human Rights First has filed a habeas corpus petition to challenge his detention and seek his release on parole. A vigil held at Bard College drew hundreds of supporters, including family members, friends, and community leaders, who gathered to show their support for Faqirzada.
Faqirzada's case has sparked widespread support across the Hudson Valley, with a GoFundMe campaign raising over $38,000 to assist with family expenses. Congressman Ryan criticized ICE's actions, stating that Faqirzada's detention contradicts American values and the asylum process. As the community continues to advocate for his release, Faqirzada remains in ICE custody at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility in New Jersey.