A family of seven with five children was ripped from their home, schools, community, and loved ones to be deported to a country they do not feel safe in.

Summary:

A family of seven displaced from Afghanistan worked for over two years to make it to the United States. They presented themselves at the border to legally enter the country and were immediately detained. They were denied their right to seek asylum as border agents confiscated all necessary documents. They finally were released in Colorado in August on a community based monitoring program and began building a home, a community, and a life. They were given false hope believing they were going to be released from the ICE monitoring program and were instead abruptly detained and removed from the United States at a normal program checkin. The family was disappeared for three days during which advocates and lawyers were unable to find them and went through absolute horror in the hands of ICE. Through lies, sneaky timing, and what we believe to be an illegal series of events through immigration, this family had all of their biggest hopes and dreams crushed.

Their Story:

This is the story of a family fleeing Afghanistan for their safety that was allowed only four sweet months in the US. Four months is all it took for the children to make friends, for the parents to find hobbies, for the family to finally experience safety and love and comfort in their own home and to build an extended family through community and mutual support. Only to have it all taken away in an hour.

A family of six legally entered the United States in August 2025 by presenting themselves at the southern border. Border patrol attempted to deport them at this time, but the mother was 8 months pregnant and was not allowed on the plane to send them back. They were placed into the Alternative to Detention (ADT) monitoring program through Immigration and Customs Enforcement and were released as there are very limited detention options for families with young children. The ADT program included ankle monitors for constant location tracking, daily photos for location verification, home visits, and frequent office visits. The parents always complied and fulfilled every request.

The family arrived in Colorado with nothing but the clothes on their backs as all personal items and identification had been confiscated by ICE. They found their way to long time family friends and began building a life. They grew roots through community connections, enrolling the kids in school, attending local events, and exploring their new neighborhood. The youngest baby girl was born surrounded by love and support from their new community. From the start of the ADT program the family was under the impression that if they complied with the program rules and attended their appointments they could get the monitors taken off. They began an asylum case within a week of being in the US as they told stories of their journey and hardship to make it to Colorado. Though the lawyers were working tirelessly, they hit many roadblocks in their case because even though they filed legal documents requiring ICE to release official copies of their information, they were sent the wrong information and did not ever comply. The lawyers were not able to complete the asylum application before the family was detained and subjected to expedited removal, a violation of their right to seek asylum in the US.

In early November, the mother was sent a summons to appear in the Centennial Court office. Community advocates worked hard to prepare her case and compile all supporting documents to show the life she was building and the contributions she made to her new community. After the birth of the youngest child, the mother had chronic high blood pressure and the night before she was supposed to appear, the court date canceled due to health concerns. Just a few weeks later, the father received the same summons and we again reached out to the director of the program and got it canceled again. The following Friday, a checkin appeared for their monitoring program which was not unusual. We called their caseworkers from the monitoring program and they confirmed that the family would need to come in and that they were to bring the children as well so they could verify that all family members we present in Colorado before removing the monitoring systems and releasing the family from the monitoring program. At the time, we had no reason to question this explanation and believed, as we were told, that after a certain time period the monitoring systems would be removed. We now know this was not the case.

The appointment came on Friday morning 12/12 the family piled into two cars and headed 30 minutes away for their check-in. We talked and played games with the baby and made plans to go to a concert later in the evening. We chatted about school and the future and ate dates shared by the mother. After waiting over two hours the family was finally called back. We began to see red flags as the case worker asked for the personal items of the family, they were taken through a different door than usual, and they closed the doors to the office which they usually left open. About an hour later with several questions unanswered we started to get a bad feeling. We stepped into the hall to make a phone call and saw the family, surrounded by no less than eight ICE employees being taken out the back door of the office. Through tears and filled with fear we were able to give hugs and kisses and tried to ask questions. After threatening to arrest us and separate the family, ICE took the family down the elevator without answering a single question. ICE said they would “be back to answer questions” which they never did.

The family stepped into the elevator and were disappeared for three days. After visiting multiple locations and making dozens of phone calls to detentions centers across the country, the only information to be found in the ICE systems was “Location: Call ICE for Details.” Even the lawyers working on their case were unable to locate the family by calling ICE. And as they were taken on a Friday, all offices were closed for the weekend. The family went through absolute horror until they were released to a United Nations organization in Brazil on Sunday. We received a text at 7:11pm on Sunday as the family notified their friends and family that they had already been deported. Community advocates have been unable to confirm if the family was given a credible fear interview, indicating an unlawful arrest and further violation of their right to seek asylum.

Our request for you:

As the family are now coming to terms with their plan B for a better life, community advocates are raising funds to support them as best we can from afar. They have chosen to pursue moving the family to France for another chance at a life with access to safety, education, and opportunities for work. The first $4000 will go to their plane tickets to the French territory of Guiana which is just outside of Brazil. There, they will need about $2000 per month for about six months to cover basic needs as they establish themselves. Their lives are still filled with so many unknowns and if we can ensure they have food, water, shelter, and clothing they can maybe have a little space to prepare for what the new version of their future looks like.

Please consider donating if you believe there is injustice in the way this family was treated.

All proceeds will go directly to the family.

Thank you!