candlelight vigil, 6:30 p.m. tonight in front of Peter W. Rodino Jr. Federal Building, 970 Broad St, in Newark.
A Man who worked for the U.S. military in Afghanistan was detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Newark-Liberty International Airport on March 13, despite the fact that he had been vetted for two years and been granted a special immigrant visa by the State Department. A parole hearing tomorrow will determine whether he can be released from detention and temporarily remain in the U.S. while seeking asylum, or will be deported back to Afghanistan where he faces threats of retribution from the Taliban.
From the ACLU website:
“The man, whose first name is Abdul, arrived on March 13 at Newark-Liberty International Airport on a valid visa, only to find himself detained and his visa revoked without explanation. Abdul had worked at dining facilities for the U.S. military and as a result, became the target of violent attacks and intimidation by the Taliban. He arrived in the United States on a valid visa, sponsored by a retired Army Sergeant, after the U.S. government vetted him more than two years in Afghanistan. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents detained him at the airport for over 28 hours, refused to let his attorneys meet with him, and pressured and misled him into signing a paper that withdrew his request for legal admission to the country.”
The vigil is being organized by immigrant advocate and veterans organizations, including Make the Road New Jersey, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, and the International Refugee Assistance Program.
Read the full story—
The Record / NorthJersey.com, April 05
Immigrant advocates plan vigil for Afghan man held in detention
ACLU / News
Groups Push for Release of Detained Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Holder
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