Who is Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry? Pakistani U.S. Army veteran detained by ICE during citizenship interview

(TUKWILA) A Pakistani-born U.S. Army veteran, Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, was detained by ICE during his final citizenship interview at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Tukwila on August 22, 2025, according to his family and civil rights groups. As of August 23, 2025, he is being held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. Neither ICE nor USCIS has given a public explanation for the detention despite repeated requests from advocates and local media.

Chaudhry has lived in the United States for about 25 years. He served in the U.S. military from the 1990s through the early 2000s and was medically discharged after injuries that left him with ongoing back and neck problems. He now relies on a wheelchair. His family says they arrived at USCIS in good faith for a routine step in the naturalization process and were stunned when the appointment turned into custody.

His wife, Melissa Chaudhry, a candidate for Congress in Washington’s 9th District, condemned the detention and called for his immediate release. The couple has two young children, ages 2 and 8 months. Family members and supporters describe the episode as a breach of trust that will make other immigrant families afraid to attend scheduled appointments.

The reason for ICE’s action remains unclear. Federal officials have not said whether the detention is tied to earlier legal issues in Chaudhry’s past immigration history. Records from more than a decade ago show that he faced a deportation order connected to a 2010 case in Australia involving the use of a false passport and a credit card; he pleaded guilty in that matter. After later immigration court hearings in the United States, he was allowed to remain and, in 2018, was recognized as a lawful resident.

Government filings over the years also referred to aliases, while veteran advocates pointed to his service and disability. Chaudhry has been active with Veterans for Peace, an anti-war group.

Detention at a citizenship interview

Family members say the detention happened inside the USCIS office during a scheduled citizenship interview — the appointment many immigrants reach after years of living in the country, working, and passing background checks.

USCIS explains that these interviews and tests are a formal part of the process and usually focus on eligibility, English, and civics. Official information about the interview step is available on USCIS’s website: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learn-about-citizenship/the-naturalization-interview-and-test.

Advocates note that coordination between civil immigration agencies can allow arrests to occur at or near government buildings, including during appointments, though such actions are not common in public view. In this case, ICE took custody while the naturalization review was underway, according to the family. USCIS declined to explain what prompted the handoff or whether any new information arose in the course of the appointment.

Chaudhry’s detention drew swift response from civil rights groups and veteran supporters across Washington state. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Washington chapter (CAIR-WA), called for his release and pressed for answers about why a disabled veteran was detained at a routine appointment.

Supporters and community members voiced concern that the case sends a message that even long-term residents and former service members can face sudden custody at an everyday immigration check-in.

“Detaining a disabled veteran during a routine citizenship appointment undermines trust and raises serious questions about transparency and fairness,” said supporters organizing on his behalf.

Policy backdrop and rising scrutiny

Chaudhry’s case comes amid tougher immigration enforcement steps rolled out in 2024 and 2025. These policy shifts included:

• Stricter border measures
• Increased deportations
• A push for expanded vetting of visa holders and naturalization applicants

Immigrant rights groups say changes brought closer review of applicants’ “good moral character,” and new screening for alleged “anti-Americanism.” The federal government also introduced new registration rules in April 2025 that reshaped compliance checks across parts of the system.

Supporters of tighter controls argue that firm enforcement protects national security and upholds the rule of law. Critics counter that a wider net can catch people with deep roots in local communities who present no current risk.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, these policy shifts have increased the number of enforcement touchpoints inside the system — from the border to interior checks, including interactions with USCIS for benefits such as a citizenship interview. Advocates warn that this layered environment can make routine appointments feel risky, even for those who have lived in the United States for decades.

Veteran groups and immigration attorneys say the detention of a disabled former service member raises hard questions about how the country weighs military service in immigration decisions. While Congress and past administrations have sometimes sought special pathways or protections for those who served, enforcement actions can still move forward based on:

• Old removal orders
• Past convictions
• Updated security screenings

This can occur even when a person has lived as a lawful resident and is married with children.

Practical steps: What families and applicants can do

For applicants worried about possible custody during a citizenship interview, attorneys and community advocates recommend practical, low-cost steps to plan for the unexpected:

1. Consider speaking with a licensed immigration lawyer before the appointment, especially if you have any past arrests, convictions, or prior removal orders — even if very old.
2. Ask your lawyer if they can attend the citizenship interview with you or be on call during the appointment.
3. Keep key documents ready and organized, including court records and proof of how those issues were resolved.
4. If you use an interpreter, choose one who is qualified and familiar with your case history.
5. Share your appointment details with a trusted friend or family member and set a check-in time for after the interview.
6. Make a family plan in case of a delay or detention, including childcare arrangements and emergency contacts.
7. Know how to locate a person in ICE custody and how to contact the local immigration detention center. Call facilities to confirm location and ask about visiting hours.
8. If you are a veteran, bring proof of service and disability ratings and keep copies with a family member.
9. Connect with community groups, local civil rights organizations, and veteran networks for legal referrals and support.

Each case is different; these steps do not change legal status but can ease stress for families and help attorneys respond quickly if an incident occurs.

Local response and community impact

Back in Washington state, supporters want clarity from authorities about why the detention happened at that time and place. They also seek assurances that people can attend scheduled government appointments without fear of a surprise arrest, unless there is an urgent safety concern.

ICE has not said whether:

• A prior removal order was reactivated
• A recent review raised new issues
• New information surfaced during the interview

Chaudhry’s long record in the United States and his years of service in uniform give this case special attention. He enlisted in the Army in the 1990s, served through the early 2000s, and left the service due to injuries. Supporters emphasize his disability and daily reality of life in a wheelchair, arguing that detaining a disabled veteran without clear public explanation undercuts community trust.

The detention center in Tacoma has handled many high-profile cases. Lawyers familiar with the site say the facility processes a range of detainees — from people stopped at the border and transferred north, to residents who have lived in local neighborhoods for years.

Chaudhry’s family and allies have rallied outside the facility to press for his release and demand a timeline. So far, there has been no public update from ICE on any custody review or transfer.

Personal, political, and community strain

The family’s daily life is now shaped by visits, calls, and care for two infants while also running a congressional campaign. Friends describe the strain of juggling politics, parenting, and detention all at once. Local groups are organizing rides, meals, and childcare to support the household during this uncertain period.

Chaudhry’s case revives debate about how immigration enforcement should weigh the full story of a person’s life. Supporters note he was recognized as a lawful resident in 2018 after U.S. court proceedings despite an earlier case abroad. They question whether long-term stability, family ties, and military service should affect how the government acts when a person appears for a scheduled appointment seeking to become a citizen.

Veterans for Peace members in the region have joined calls for better transparency. They stress that many former service members who immigrated to the country still view military service as a bond with the nation they chose to call home. For them, a detention during a citizenship interview sends a stark message to the wider veteran immigrant community.

What’s next

There is no public timeline for the next step in Chaudhry’s case. Civil rights groups are monitoring and plan to keep pressing for answers. Until federal officials explain their action, many families will watch closely — trying to decide how safe it is to attend future appointments and how best to prepare if their own long immigration journeys take an unexpected turn.