The detention of a young Afghan man with a special visa has caused outrage in the United States, after ICE agents arrested him in a courthouse in the state of Virginia.

The case took on greater relevance because the young man was apprehended on August 8, just as he was going to appear in court for a minor driving incident that occurred in December 2024. According to reports from Newsweek and Virginia Mercury, the arrest occurred despite the fact that he has legal status derived from his family's support for the US Army during the war in Afghanistan.

An arrest that nobody saw coming

According to Virginia Mercury, the young man, identified as Armand Momand, 19, was attending a hearing for minor traffic charges in a Virginia court when ICE agents detained him.

The media outlet notes that the judge did not hand down a sentence that involved jail time, however, immediately after the court proceedings, the young man was arrested by immigration personnel.

The situation has generated criticism because, according to the same source, Momand does not have a serious criminal record and had regularly followed the legal proceedings against him. His family and legal advocates say the arrest sends a message of lack of protection to those who relied on the US government for support in Afghanistan.

The Life of Armand Momand and His Immigration Status

Armand Momand came to the United States from Afghanistan thanks to a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), granted to families who collaborated with the US military during the war. This status allowed him to remain in the country legally, with a process underway to obtain permanent residency, as documented by Newsweek.

For its part, ICE argued that the arrest was a consequence of an immigration violation resulting from his arrest in December 2024 for speeding and disorderly conduct. Although it was a minor incident and he did not receive a significant sentence, the agency considered it sufficient to initiate deportation proceedings.

What's next for Momand

After his arrest, Armand Momand remains in ICE custody awaiting immigration hearings that will determine whether he will be deported to Afghanistan, a country his family fears returning to due to possible retaliation for having collaborated with the U.S. military. The young man was ready to resume his studies. His next hearing will be on September 8.