A Cheshire High School senior seized by ICE agents two weeks ago is coming home.
Monday, a federal immigration judge in Chelmsford, MA set bond at $1,500 for Rihan, 19, who’s been held without charges since he was taken Feb. 6.
A federal judge in Connecticut had sent to case to immigration court, saying that Rihan’s arrest was related to an error in paperwork—the two-year humanitarian parole period for the native of Afghanistan was was erroneously listed as one year.
An activist says Rihan’s detention demonstrates how badly the U.S. is mishandling the legal immigration of its wartime allies from Afghanistan.
Shawn VanDiver of the group AfghanEvac calls Rihan’s arrest illegal and calls the bond “ransom… because this kid should not have to pay any money to get out of jail. He’s being unlawfully detained. It was a paperwork error.”
“But it’s very good that he’s getting out. He’s gonna be able to graduate high school, walk with his classmates. He’s gonna be able to pursue his American dream.”
Rihan has been held at a federal facility in Plymouth, MA—where his father was incarcerated for three months last year, also illegally according to VanDiver.
The federal government claimed that Zia was a national security threat.
“A judge ruled that (Rihan’s) father, Zia, had been unlawfully detained less than a year ago,” says VanDiver, “and ICE came back for another shot at this family because they’re vindictive, or maybe they were bored… and decided to come harass this family.”
Zia was a translator for U.S. forces in Afghanistan and arrived in the U.S. legally on humanitarian parole with his wife and five children in 2024. That parole expires in October of this year.
The family has applied for permanent U.S. residency, but the State Department has paused consideration of such requests from Afghans.
Zia and Rihan’s family released a statement through CT Students for a Dream, saying “Thank you, everyone, for your support and for helping our family. We are grateful for the support of Senator Blumenthal, Governor Lamont, Attorney General Tong, our attorneys, and our Cheshire representatives and community.”
VanDiver says Zia’s entire family has been mistreated, and his young daughters are afraid to go to school. He says the U.S. must change course on several fronts when it comes to legal immigrants:
--What we’d like to see is Congress file a discharge petition to force a floor vote on Temporary Protective Status and an adjustment of status for Afghan wartime allies... (The Trump Administration) cancelled all Temporary Protection, we gotta at least try to get them that.
--We’ve gotta pass the Enduring Welcome Act, so that more people like Zia and Rihan can make it to their shot at the American Dream.
--Congress has got to hold some oversight… on the actions against documented, lawfully-here Afghan families, the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) benefits pause and reported refugee re-interview. They’ve stopped adjudicating green cards and asylum… They could lift the hold (on those programs).
"We're thrilled with (Rihan’s release). It's the right result,” said Rihan’s attorney, Lauren Peterson of the American Immigration Legal Clinic. “We're so grateful to Rihan's school, community, and lawmakers who have advocated and supported Rihan's return to his family. He'll be back to school, where he should be, very soon.”
“This family risked their lives to support our troops overseas, and they have done everything our country has asked of them to build a safe life here,” said state Attorney General William Tong. “The Trump Administration must keep this family together, home in Connecticut where they belong, and drop this cruel and misguided fixation on this family.”
“I am overjoyed that justice has been done for Rihan and his family in his release from ICE’s unlawful, abusive detention,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). “Neither he nor his father, Zia, should ever have been seized and incarcerated. They are in America lawfully. In fact, they are here because they put their lives on the line in Afghanistan to help protect our troops.”
“I am deeply proud to stand alongside the other political leaders, advocates, and community members who refused to let this family be forgotten,” said Gov. Ned Lamont (D). But let us be clear: what was done to Rihan and Zia was wrong, and their case is not an exception. ICE’s pattern of reckless, inhumane detention has torn apart too many families and destroyed too many lives. That fight is far from over, and I will not stop fighting for justice.”
