A Connecticut Cheshire High School student who was recently detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been released after spending two weeks in a detention center.
Rihan, an 18-year-old student from Afghanistan, was taken into ICE custody on April 6 in Cheshire and taken to the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, where he remained until he was released on April 20, according to reporting by CT Insider and the New Haven Register.
ICE officials said that Rihan was detained because he had humanitarian parole that had expired. However, attorneys representing him disputed these actions and told a judge that his parole is valid through October 2026. The attorneys also said he has a pending green card application that would allow him to obtain permanent residency in the United States, according to CT Insider.
The arrest occurred when ICE agents were trying to detain Rihan’s father, Zia, who was previously detained by ICE in 2025 while attempting to file his citizenship paperwork. Zia also worked alongside U.S. military forces as an interpreter in Afghanistan before he and his family came to the United States.
Under federal law, ICE is permitted to detain people who are not legally living in the United States or who have removal orders against them. The agency has stated that its priority is to detain people who are a threat to public safety and national security.
However, in Rihan’s case, attorneys argued that these protocols were not followed. He has no criminal record and entered the United States legally under humanitarian parole, which is temporary protection for people who are fleeing conflicts in their home country. His lawyers also argued that ICE revoked his parole only after they took him into custody, according to CT Insider, which raises concerns about whether the agency followed proper procedure.
Connecticut officials, including Ned Lamont, William Tong and Richard Blumenthal, also questioned Rihan’s detention. Lamont described it as “deeply concerning,” according to CT Mirror, while Tong cited legal issues with the detention, and Blumenthal called it unjustified and called on ICE to release Rihan from custody.
An immigration judge later granted Rihan a $1,500 bond, which allowed him to be released from custody as the case proceeded. Rihan has returned home, but his case is ongoing.
The case has become part of a bigger discussion about how ICE uses its authority to detain people. While the agency has the power to take people into custody for violating immigration laws, critics argue that cases involving people like Rihan with pending legal paperwork or with no criminal record raise concerns about due process.
For the sake of privacy, Rihan and Zia are only referred to by their first name. This is a trend when it comes to those facing political pressures.
