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Afghan high school senior detained by ICE on expired parole error, released on bond after two weeks

Apr 24, 2026·Location: Cheshire, CT

Country of origin: Afghanistan

Afghan high school senior detained by ICE on expired parole error, released on bond after two weeks
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Rihan Shinwari, an 18-year-old Afghan high school senior at Cheshire High School in Connecticut, was detained by ICE on April 6, 2026, during a traffic stop. ICE detained him based on erroneous paperwork claiming his humanitarian parole had expired in October 2025, though court filings confirmed it remained valid until October 2026. His family had legally entered the U.S. on humanitarian parole in October 2024 after his father served as an interpreter for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Held at Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts for over two weeks, an immigration court judge set his bond at $1,500 and ordered his release on April 21, 2026. Rihan was released on April 22, 2026, and remains in removal proceedings; his attorneys sought reinstatement of his humanitarian parole.

Timeline

Apr 22, 2026—Rihan released from custody after two weeks of detention
Apr 21, 2026—Immigration court judge ordered Rihan's release on bond
Apr 20, 2026—Immigration court judge granted Rihan $1,500 bond at video hearing
Apr 6, 2026—Rihan detained by ICE during a traffic stop on erroneous paperwork claiming his humanitarian parole had expired in October 2025
Apr 6, 2026—Rihan transferred to Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts
Oct 1, 2024—Rihan's family legally entered the U.S. on humanitarian parole after his father served as an interpreter for U.S. forces in Afghanistan
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