COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Immigration advocates are warning Columbus’ Afghan community that migrants who arrived through a legal pathway are now being summoned and arrested by ICE.
Last week “J,” an Afghan immigrant who entered the country in 2024 through the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) One program, was arrested after being summoned for an immigration appointment. NBC4 is only identifying the man and his family by an initial to avoid influencing any immigration proceedings. See previous coverage of ICE in Columbus in the video player above.
Karyn Nicoll, a refugee support team member at Indian Run United Methodist Church, said she grew close to J and his wife, “A,” after they arrived last year. J, A and their two children fled to Iran, then the U.S., after the Taliban terrorist group seized control of Afghanistan in 2021.
Columbus leaders push back on reported ICE arrests
Nicoll said the family has regular check-ins with ICE every few months, but J was summoned to the ICE office last week with little explanation. Upon his arrival, J was arrested by ICE and told the CBP One program was no longer considered a legal avenue to be in the U.S…