After four months of detention, Stephanie Kenny-Velasquez was released from an ICE facility in Houston after a federal judge ruled her due process rights were violated. Kenny-Velasquez, a Venezuelan national who had previously applied for asylum, was detained just two days after marrying U.S. Army Reserve pilot Chris Busby. Her release comes after her legal team successfully argued her detention was unconstitutional, though her pending asylum case continues. The couple now awaits further legal proceedings for her permanent residency.
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A 41-year-old Afghan wartime ally and father of six, Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, died in federal custody Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after his arrest by ICE agents in Richardson. Paktyawal, who served with U.S. Special Forces for a decade, experienced a medical emergency at the Dallas ICE Field Office and was transported to Parkland Hospital, where he died despite lifesaving efforts. While the cause of death is under investigation, family and advocacy groups are seeking answers, noting Paktyawal had a pending asylum case and valid work authorization at the time of his detention.
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The tragic death of an Afghan asylum-seeker while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has brought a wave of sorrow and urgent questions, highlighting the precarious situation of those who once aided American efforts in Afghanistan. This individual, who had bravely assisted the U.S. military during their presence in the country, found himself in a desperate situation, forced to flee his homeland with his family upon the U.S. withdrawal. His journey, intended to lead to safety, instead culminated in a devastating loss within the confines of detention.
Upon arriving in the United States, this asylum-seeker was dedicated to providing for his family of six children.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood