Several Connecticut politicians are calling for the release of an Afghan interpreter who was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents earlier this month in East Hartford.

Ziaulhaq Shinwari, also known as Zia, was arrested by masked ICE agents outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Center on July 16, according to Rep. John Larson and Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Shinwari was at the center to have his biometrics taken, which is the first step in processing his green card application, said Blumenthal. Following his arrest, Shinwari was put in an unmarked van and is being held in Plymouth, Mass.

Once he was at the detention facility, Shinwari was issued an Order of Expedited Removal based "on the false claim that he entered the U.S. illegally and without documents," said Blumenthal.

Blumenthal said a federal judge has temporarily stayed Shinwari's removal. He said Shinwari worked as a translator and cultural advisor contractor for American forces at Camp Mike Spann in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan.

His office said that Shinwari's youngest brother also worked as an interpreter, which resulted in the family being marked as pro-American and could be targeted by the Taliban.

Shinwari has no criminal history and traveled to the U.S. using an approved humanitarian parole visa and travel documents issued by the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, according to Blumenthal. Shinwari also received Chief of Mission approval in his Special Immigrant Visa case.

Larson described the incident as an abuse of power by the Trump administration.

"Zia bravely risked his life in Afghanistan, allying with our armed forces to stand up for the American values that we hold dear. He came to our country through the legal process. We should be upholding our promise to Zia and all our allies from Afghanistan, so they can live their lives free from persecution. This blatant violation of due process should alarm every American," he said.

Larson is a co-sponsor of the No Secret Police Act, which would require law enforcement and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents working on border security and immigration enforcement to identify themselves. Agents would be banned from wearing homemade and non-tactical masks.

He has additionally called for the reinstatement of canceled programs that would protect Afghans like Shinwari who worked with the U.S. in overseas missions.

In a statement, a senior DHS official said, "Ziaulhaq Shinwari, a national of Afghanistan, entered the U.S. on October 8, 2024, and paroled by the Biden administration into our country. Following an immigration check-in appointment, ICE arrested Shinwari. He is currently under investigation for a serious criminal allegation. All of his claims will be heard by a judge. Any Afghan who fears persecution is able to request relief."