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HOUSTON — U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is demanding the discharge of a former Afghan soldier looking for asylum within the U.S. who’s being held at a Texas detention heart after he tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border to reunite together with his brother.
And to make sure Abdul Wasi Safi begins his life within the U.S. and not using a legal report, Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, has despatched a letter to the White Home asking the Biden administration to pardon the Afghan veteran for any crimes associated to his crossing the border looking for asylum.
“This can be a mistake that must be corrected instantly,” she stated at a information convention Friday.
Wasi, as he’s recognized, labored as an intelligence officer within the Afghan Nationwide Safety Forces alongside U.S. troops. He fled Afghanistan in 2021 because the Taliban started focusing on residents who had beforehand helped the U.S. throughout the decadeslong battle. Wasi crossed three continents to make it to the Texas border, the place he hoped to fulfill his brother, who’s now a naturalized U.S. citizen. As an alternative, he was arrested and has been in custody since Sept. 30.
“I’m calling on Biden’s administration to launch my brother,” stated Sami-ullah Safi, Wasi’s brother. “He believed on this mission of this nation in Afghanistan. That’s why he fought alongside america Special Forces … to get rid of terrorism.”
In a letter to President Joe Biden, the congresswoman requested that he situation Wasi a pardon, stating an owed debt to our allies must be honored by the nation.
“When their service exposes them to credible threats, we should redouble our effort to maintain our phrase as a result of doing so additionally protects our troops stationed world wide as we speak and into the longer term,” the letter reads.
Jackson Lee, a co-chair of the Home’s Afghanistan caucus, is the highest-profile official to demand Wasi’s launch. Beforehand, a number of navy and immigrant rights teams known as on the White Home to intervene in Wasi’s case.
Jackson Lee stated Friday she believed the White Home had not acquired these messages. Jackson Lee stood at a podium within the Mickey Leland Federal Constructing flanked by supporters of the Safi brothers, together with native Afghan group members in Houston, navy veterans and new members of Wasi’s authorized group.
Wasi, who’s dealing with legal prices for trying to cross the border with out correct paperwork, was anticipated to have a plea listening to earlier this week. Nevertheless, a brand new authorized group requested for an extension. Wasi has additionally begun to cooperate with the federal authorities. He was interviewed by the FBI earlier this month.
The congresswoman stated Wasi should be granted asylum and not using a legal report.
“I characterize this as a logistical error and nightmare for Mr. Safi,” she stated. Jackson Lee particularly underlined the legal misdemeanor prices as the foremost trigger for Wasi’s asylum case delays.
A brand new courtroom date has been set for mid-February.
“I’m the final particular person that wishes to jeopardize the nationwide safety of this nation, or to jeopardize any safety for the American individuals, however I feel it is very important attempt to be honest throughout the board,” Jackson Lee stated.
A Houston-area volunteer began a GoFundMe account within the identify of Wasi’s brother, Sami, to cowl doubtless medical bills from a group of periodontists, dentists, audiologists and psychological well being professionals on standby to evaluate Wasi after his launch.
