Sheila Jackson Lee calls for presidential pardon of Afghan soldier in Texas

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HOUSTON — U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is demanding the discharge of a former Afghan soldier searching for asylum in the U.S. who’s being held at a Texas detention middle after he tried to cross the U.S.-Mexico border to reunite together with his brother.

And to make sure Abdul Wasi Safi begins his life in the U.S. with out a legal file, Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, has despatched a letter to the White House asking the Biden administration to pardon the Afghan veteran for any crimes associated to his crossing the border searching for asylum.

“This is a mistake that needs to be corrected immediately,” she stated at a news convention Friday.

Wasi, as he’s identified, labored as an intelligence officer in the Afghan National Security Forces alongside U.S. troops. He fled Afghanistan in 2021 because the Taliban started concentrating on residents who had beforehand helped the U.S. throughout the decadeslong struggle. Wasi crossed three continents to make it to the Texas border, the place he hoped to satisfy his brother, who’s now a naturalized U.S. citizen. Instead, he was arrested and has been in custody since Sept. 30.

“I’m calling on Biden’s administration to release my brother,” stated Sami-ullah Safi, Wasi’s brother. “He believed in this mission of this country in Afghanistan. That’s why he fought alongside the United States Special Forces … to eliminate terrorism.”

In a letter to President Joe Biden, the congresswoman requested that he problem Wasi a pardon, stating an owed debt to our allies must be honored by the nation.

“When their service exposes them to credible threats, we must redouble our effort to keep our word because doing so also protects our troops stationed around the world today and into the future,” the letter reads.

Jackson Lee, a co-chair of the House’s Afghanistan caucus, is the highest-profile official to demand Wasi’s launch. Previously, a number of army and immigrant rights teams referred to as on the White House to intervene in Wasi’s case.

Jackson Lee stated Friday she believed the White House had not obtained these messages. Jackson Lee stood at a podium in the Mickey Leland Federal Building flanked by supporters of the Safi brothers, together with native Afghan group members in Houston, army veterans and new members of Wasi’s authorized workforce.

Wasi, who’s dealing with legal prices for trying to cross the border with out correct paperwork, was anticipated to have a plea listening to earlier this week. However, a brand new authorized workforce requested for an extension. Wasi has additionally begun to cooperate with the federal authorities. He was interviewed by the FBI earlier this month.

The congresswoman stated Wasi should be granted asylum with out a legal file.

“I characterize this as a logistical error and nightmare for Mr. Safi,” she stated. Jackson Lee particularly underlined the legal misdemeanor prices as the main trigger for Wasi’s asylum case delays.

A brand new courtroom date has been set for mid-February.

“I’m the last person that wants to jeopardize the national security of this nation, or to jeopardize any security for the American people, but I think it is important to try to be fair across the board,” Jackson Lee stated.

A Houston-area volunteer began a GoFundMe account in the identify of Wasi’s brother, Sami, to cowl probably medical bills from a workforce of periodontists, dentists, audiologists and psychological well being professionals on standby to evaluate Wasi after his launch.