The Washington Post reports that two Afghan citizens, Zia and Sayed Nasir, both former interpreters and aides to U.S. forces in Afghanistan have been arrested in separate operations in Connecticut and San Diego.
Court documents reveal that both men had previously worked with American troops during the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. Their attorneys presented contracts and supporting documents outlining their service. However, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security labeled Zia a national security threat and arrested Nasir over immigration-related violations due to a lack of legal documentation.
Zia served as an interpreter and cultural advisor between 2005 and 2009. He reportedly fled to the United States in 2025 and was apprehended in Connecticut on July 16.
Nasir, who worked with U.S. forces from 2011 to 2013, was arrested earlier this year in June.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration remains focused on identifying and deporting individuals who either pose security risks or lack proper legal status.
This incident is part of a broader trend, as dozens of former Afghan collaborators have been arrested or in some cases killed in the United States this year alone.
