A Struggle for Asylum: Afghan Family Trapped in US Detention

Wed Oct 22 2025 11:52:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An Afghan woman's family faces an uncertain future stuck in US ICE detention, eligible for asylum in Canada but hindered by bureaucratic complications.

Asal, an Afghan woman living in Toronto, is desperate to reunite with her family detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite having grounds for asylum in Canada due to familial ties, her family faces bureaucratic hurdles that keep them imprisoned in the US. This case highlights the broader implications of changing asylum policies and raises questions about international responsibilities towards families separated by immigration laws.

In a quiet, leafy suburb of Toronto, a 30-year-old Afghan woman, referred to as 'Asal', spends her afternoons trying to connect with her siblings and father, who are detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the US. The family is eligible for asylum in Canada through Asal, but their hopes remain distant due to complex immigration policies.

For months, they have been trapped in a bureaucratic limbo, unable to access the asylum process they desperately need. Despite being in close proximity across the border, US officials insist they must enter Canada by air to be eligible for release, which is currently complicated by their ongoing visa application.

Asal's plight illustrates how shifting immigration policies, particularly during the Trump administration, have ensnared vulnerable populations seeking safety. Her family's case raises urgent questions about the responsibilities of nations in responding to the needs of asylum seekers.

Working with attorneys in both Canada and the US, Asal has pursued every available avenue to secure her family's release. She has even offered to pay for ICE agents to escort them across the border, but to no avail. The looming possibility of her family being deported back to Afghanistan or another unsafe country is a constant source of anxiety.

Asal's father, who previously worked as a contractor for US troops in Afghanistan, faces severe risks should he be returned to his homeland, underscoring the urgent humanitarian aspect of their case.

Throughout the ordeal, Asal communicates with her siblings through an online visitation system provided by ICE, sharing in their struggles as they endure incarceration in poor conditions. Reports indicate inadequate food, lack of privacy, and a general state of distress that culminates in constant tension and fear of deportation.

Legal representatives argue Canada holds a moral obligation to expedite the entry process for those detained in the US whose familial connections are grounded in Canada.

Asal, while hopeful for a resolution, voices her fears: I cannot sleep most nights, worried about my family's fate, but I have faith that Canadian officials will help us in our time of need. The situation not only highlights the impact of immigration policies on families but also the broader human rights issues faced by asylum seekers globally.