Afghan Army Veteran Detained by ICE Despite Active Parole and Work Authorization

Mohammad Ali Dadfar, a 37-year-old former Afghan Army member who worked alongside U.S. forces, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on October 10 during an operation targeting drivers with licenses from so-called sanctuary states. Dadfar says he was intercepted at a weigh station in Indiana, taken to Greene County Jail in Springfield, Missouri, and prevented from contacting his family until arrival. He reports agents forced him to remove his clothes and asked for proof of legal status, but did not examine the document he provided.

Background and journey to the U.S.

Dadfar served in the Afghan Army for 14 years and helped resist Taliban advances as the militants approached Mazar-i-Sharif and then Kabul in August 2021. Facing repeated death threats, he went into hiding and was unable to board evacuation flights during the chaos at Kabul International Airport. After roughly six months in hiding, he reunited with his family and fled Afghanistan via Pakistan to Iran. Dissatisfied with conditions there, the family later moved to Brazil on humanitarian visas.

While in Brazil the family lived in cramped conditions with many other families and struggled to secure steady work or permanent housing. They eventually undertook a strenuous six-month journey to the U.S. border. During the crossing through the Darién Gap in Panama, Dadfar carried his youngest daughter across a powerful river where she nearly drowned; his wife later described seeing multiple dead bodies in the jungle. The family arrived in Mexico, applied for asylum via the CBP One app, provided biometric and fingerprint data, and were admitted into the United States.

Legal status and detention

Dadfar was granted parole and work authorization upon entry; that authorization is valid through June 17, 2026. He also has a pending asylum case with a next court date scheduled for February 2026. Despite this active parole status and pending asylum claim, he was detained on October 10.

After his detention, a newly issued form reportedly stated that Dadfar would be safe if returned to Afghanistan. Dadfar and his wife say he was never asked whether returning would be safe, and they emphasize that the Taliban continue to target former opponents.

Legal action and public support

On November 12, Dadfar's attorney, Rekha Sharma-Crawford, filed a writ of habeas corpus seeking his release. The court ordered the government to show cause by November 17; when the government did not comply, the deadline was extended to November 21 and again missed. Sharma-Crawford says Dadfar is frustrated and confused about his detention, given that his documents were in order, and she is hopeful the court will order his release or set a bond hearing.

ICE did not respond to requests for comment about whether Dadfar's paperwork was completed without his consent or whether his pending asylum claim should have protected him from arrest. Local leaders across the political spectrum have spoken up on his behalf: Republican Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams has advocated for Dadfar's release, and Representative Joe Neguse (D–Colo.) is working with Sharma-Crawford to assist the family.

Current status: Dadfar remains in custody while his legal team pursues habeas relief and awaits further court action. His parole and work authorization remain valid through June 17, 2026, and his asylum case is still pending.