Monday Morning Update -- June 30, 2025
Last week, in partnership with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), AfghanEvac launched Battle Buddies – an initiative to support our wartime allies as they go through their immigration processes. Read AfghanEvac and IAVA’s open letter about Battle Buddies HERE and donate to support this program HERE.
Through Battle Buddies, veterans can volunteer to attend public immigration hearings in support of Afghan allies who are being targeted by ICE under the Trump Administration, despite having served alongside the U.S. mission in Afghanistan during our longest war. Learn more in the Military Times piece announcing the launch of Battle Buddies.
Battle Buddies was inspired by Sayed Naser, an Afghan who entered the country legally, has no criminal record, applied for asylum, has a pending SIV case, and was still snatched up by ICE in San Diego when he appeared for his legally mandated court hearing.
Watch our conversation with CNN about Battle Buddies and Sayed.
Sayed still remains in detention, and earlier this week his case was dismissed – meaning that his shot at asylum was also dismissed. Despite following every rule and requirement of our immigration system, Sayed is now in expedited removal proceedings, with a “credible fear” interview with an asylum officer – a phone call in which his lawyer is not invited to meaningfully participate – standing between him and deportation. We were able to meet with him this week and provide updates on his case to the press – but now we’re relying on the Trump Administration’s immigration system to do the right thing by a wartime ally and approve his asylum claim. We have a press conference regarding his case today at 12:30 pacific and journalists are invited to attend.
The Senate Parliamentarian struck down elements of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that would impact immigration and immigrants. The sections that were removed would have expanded state enforcement powers, limited immigrant access to public benefits, and restricted judicial review of federal immigration policy. Read more about what was removed and what it means here.
Theoretically CARE is closing tomorrow, but there is still no guidance on whether that’s happening or how. CARE employees aren’t yet sure whether they’ll remain employed, whether they’ll be let go, or whether they’ll shift to a different office as CARE functions transition, theoretically, to the Afghanistan desk. With the decimation of the CARE office, the government’s ability to restart relocation flights is significantly diminished. Yet the Administration hasn’t communicated anything to those Afghans still in the pipeline, the advocates who work with them, or even the staff at CARE. This level of negligence is both shocking and an implicit admission that this Administration doesn’t care about our allies or the veterans they served with. One thing we know for sure – the CARE contact center is shutting down July 31. Afghans will have no one to call, so advocates should expect questions to increase exponentially.
U.S. government lawyers have stated that the Trump travel ban will apply to all refugees, including the 160 already approved who were meant to be processed immediately, and the thousands of others who were potentially eligible. Read IRAP’s statement to learn more.
What we’re reading
Afghan ally detained by ICE after attending immigration court hearing – CBS News
Here’s what is happening to the people ICE arrests in immigration court – Times of San Diego
Advocates recruit vets to attend Afghan allies’ immigration hearings – Military Times
Afghan, Cameroonian immigrants fight to save temporary protected status in court - WUSA9
Trump travel ban creates uncertainty for Afghan immigrants – Nashville Banner
UN: Afghans Top Global Resettlement Needs for 2026 – TOLO News
UN Calls for Action as Neighboring Countries Intensify Deportation of Afghans – Kabul Now
U.S. allies in Qatar uncertain amid Iran’s airstrike response – Fox 5 San Diego
Former Afghan interpreter’s deportation feared after San Diego ICE arrest – Fox 5 San Diego
Afghan man detained by ICE while saying he helped U.S. troops placed in expedited removal – NBC 7 San Diego
As this Administration continues to abandon our allies and dismiss the demands of veterans and other advocates to keep the promise we made as a nation, AfghanEvac will continue to shine a light on these unconscionable decisions. Sign up for Battle Buddies at the link above to lend your own support to our allies, and keep watching our social media for more information on Sayed’s case, the CARE office, and the travel ban.