The Taliban’s former ambassador to Spain was detained by a US immigration officer whereas getting into america on Saturday and remained in custody after a federal decide refused to be launched on Monday.
Former Afghan diplomat Mohammad Rahim Wahidi was detained at Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport below what his lawyer described as weaponisation of a part of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Below the regulation, the Secretary of State can deport non-citizens who’re deemed to be a nationwide safety danger.
Wahidi is a authorized everlasting resident and his spouse, Mary Shakkari Wahidi, is a US citizen, in response to court docket filings from his lawyer, Hassan Ahmad.
The Trump administration lately cited related authorized justifications for canceling visas for tons of of scholars whose participation in Palestinian demonstrations is believed to be the idea for detention and deportation. By focusing on scholar activists akin to Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk and Momodou Taal for deportation, the administration sought to hyperlink protests in opposition to Israel with “the consequence of an unfavourable overseas coverage of resignation.”
Wahidi’s case seems to be completely different.
In keeping with submissions for his launch, Wahidi’s brother-in-law is being sought by the US in reference to a conspiracy to assassinate an Iranian journalist detailed by the Justice Division. Information Launch November.
Wahidi was stripped of his title in Spain over accusations of sexual assault whereas he was there, however in response to filings, no legal expenses had been filed in opposition to him and was allowed to depart the nation.
In keeping with the submitting, when he returned to the US on a Turkish Airways flight on Saturday, Wahidi was detained for greater than 30 hours with out accessing a lawyer. He was then questioned by an “unclear variety of officers” who’re believed to be from the FBI, Ahmad wrote within the petition.
Ahmad additionally represents Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral scholar at Georgetown College, focusing on deportation for his involvement within the campus protests there.
After Wahidi’s petition was filed, U.S. District Courtroom Choose Leonie Brinkema for the Japanese District of Virginia prevented the federal government from transferring Wahidi out of the world. When scholar activists had been concerned, individuals had been routinely transferred to Louisiana’s immigration and customs enforcement detention facilities.
Neither Ahmad nor a customs and border safety spokesman responded to requests for remark.
Choose’s Rinkema He refused to instantly order Wahidi’s launch.“At this level, the court docket can not provide aid.”
Whereas the lawsuit was underway, she ordered the federal government to “adjust to CBP short-term detention requirements” and never limit Wahidi from chatting with her legal professionals.
