ICE Detains Disabled Green Card Veteran During Citizenship Interview

(TUKWILA) A disabled U.S. Army veteran with a green card was taken into custody by immigration officers during his final citizenship interview in Washington state, drawing swift protests and new scrutiny of how the government handles long-term residents who served the country. On August 22, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a longtime permanent resident originally from Pakistan, at a federal building in Tukwila, according to his family and advocates.

Chaudhry has lived in the United States for about 25 years. He was injured during military training before the September 11 attacks and later became active in veterans’ advocacy and community service. Supporters point to his volunteer work with the American Red Cross and the Yakima Police Department as proof of his deep ties. They say ICE detains people like him only in rare cases and argue he should be allowed to complete naturalization outside detention.

The detention at a citizenship interview has unsettled many immigrants and military families who view the naturalization process as a moment of stability, not risk. Chaudhry’s wife, Melissa, describes him as a devoted husband and community leader. She and supporters insist he was legally eligible to continue the process and call the arrest unjust. The case has quickly turned into a test of how much discretion ICE should use when a longtime green card holder steps forward for naturalization.

Detention at a citizenship interview sparks protests

Within days, the case drew large crowds. On August 24–25, 2025, hundreds of veterans, relatives, and community advocates rallied outside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. They demanded Chaudhry’s immediate release and asked that he be allowed to complete his application from home. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) publicly urged ICE to free him and move him through the process without further delay.

Supporters say Chaudhry has faced harsh conditions inside, including periods of isolation and limited communication with family. They fear for his physical and mental health, noting his service-connected disability. As of late August, advocates say he received a stay from the Ninth Circuit Court, which temporarily halts removal, but he remains in ICE custody while lawyers push for his release.

Chaudhry’s situation has a history in Congress. In 2009, Senators Bernie Sanders, Patty Murray, and Maria Cantwell urged a quick resolution of his immigration status, citing his service and community work. Their earlier involvement underscores how long his status has been the subject of public interest and how complicated the immigration system can be for even the most rooted residents.

Policy questions and potential fallout

The timing and setting of this detention have raised wider policy questions and prompted debate over standards and discretion:

• Should ICE detain a disabled veteran with a long record of service and community work during a citizenship interview?
• What standards should guide decisions when the applicant has strong ties, no known violence in their history, and ongoing medical needs?
• Do detentions in these circumstances improve public safety or only harm families?

Advocates argue ICE has the power to use more careful, humane alternatives—especially for veterans and other vulnerable people. Possible steps they propose include:

• supervised release or home supervision
• regular check-ins instead of detention
• allowing the person to finish the naturalization process while living at home

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the outcry in Washington state reflects growing demands for clearer rules on when detention is appropriate during naturalization, and for special care when veterans are involved.

How detention disrupts lives

Detention during a citizenship interview can have cascading effects:

• Families are left without clear answers and support.
• Attorneys face delays trying to get documents into the facility.
• Medical appointments, therapy, and other care can be interrupted.
• For disabled veterans, interruptions can have serious, long-lasting consequences.

Advocates emphasize that the law already allows long-term residents with a clean record and strong ties to remain under supervision while their cases continue.

From a legal standpoint, Chaudhry’s reported stay from the Ninth Circuit Court suggests he has a path to fight his case while inside. But a stay does not guarantee release; it pauses removal while higher courts consider legal arguments. Meanwhile, conditions in detention and the fairness of arresting someone during a citizenship appointment remain central concerns.

Public pressure, legal avenues, and next steps

Public pressure mounted quickly in Tacoma, with community leaders standing alongside veterans who said the government should honor service, not punish it. CAIR and local groups have been providing updates and connecting families with legal help.

Practical advice often shared by community groups includes:

• document medical needs and conditions
• keep copies of legal papers handy
• stay in regular contact with lawyers
• check custody status through the official ICE Online Detainee Locator at https://locator.ice.gov

The episode has prompted broader calls for policy change. Questions include whether immigration agencies should set special guidelines for veterans with permanent residency—particularly those with service-connected injuries—and whether any detention at a naturalization appointment should require mandatory review by senior officers.

Stakes and possible outcomes

For families watching from outside, the immediate outcomes matter:

1. If ICE releases Chaudhry, his naturalization could restart and proceed.
2. If he remains detained, his case may slow, his health may be at greater risk, and legal efforts will continue.

Either outcome could shape how similar cases are handled in the future. Some lawmakers have previously hinted at legislative fixes; renewed attention now may push Congress to revisit proposals that would limit detention for veterans during naturalization.

For now, Chaudhry remains detained, his family waits, and veterans’ groups, civil rights advocates, and local leaders keep calling for a path that honors his service while upholding due process. The outcome of this case will be watched closely in the coming weeks.