Rep. Ami Bera Statement on ICE Operations Targeting Afghan Refugees in Sacramento County

SACRAMENTO COUNTY, CA -Today, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) released the following statement on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations targeting Afghan refugees in Sacramento County:

"Sacramento County is the proud home to one of the largest Afghan populations in America. Our Afghan neighbors are an integral part of our community, and many of them stood side by side with our troops in Afghanistan as interpreters, drivers, aid workers, and partners. My office has recently received reports that at least two Afghan refugees residing in my district have been taken into ICE custody. This is a deeply troubling development and a betrayal of the promises our nation made to these families when they risked their lives to support our servicemembers.

"We cannot allow the actions of one individual to besmirch an entire community, especially those who stood side by side with our troops in Afghanistan and now face persecution and threats from the Taliban if they are forced to return. Every Afghan refugee must be treated with dignity, afforded full due process under our laws, and given a fair, humane opportunity to make their case. We can protect our national security while also honoring our moral obligations and the commitments we made to those who supported American servicemembers.

"My office remains ready to assist with federal agencies, including ICE and DHS, to get answers about these operations and to ensure that these refugees are treated in a manner consistent with our laws, our values, and the commitments we made to them.

"If you or a loved one has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), my office may be able to help you navigate this process:

• We must have written permission to assist. Federal privacy law requires that the detained individual complete and sign a Privacy Act waiverbefore my office can contact ICE on their behalf. Without this, we are legally barred from making an inquiry.
• You can look up a loved one's ICE custody status using the ICE Online Detainee Locator System: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search
• We can connect you with legal resources. My office maintains a list of pro bono immigration attorneys, organized by state, who may be able to assist families in these situations.
• While I cannot guarantee the outcome of any individual case, my staff and I will always do our best to ensure that every person is treated fairly and receives a timely response from the federal government.
• If you need further assistance, please visit bera.house.gov/get-helpor call my District Office at (916) 635-0505 so my team and I can do our best to help."