Afghanistan, Nov. 14 -- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged US immigration authorities to release Afghan journalist Shaban Ali Rafat and grant him a full hearing on his asylum application, warning that deporting him to Afghanistan could expose him to persecution and retaliation by the Taliban.
In a statement issued on November 13, 2026, CPJ said Rafat had been held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody in California since January 21, 2025, after attempting to enter the United States to seek asylum. His lawyer, David Tarr, said the journalist now faces deportation to Afghanistan.
The press freedom organisation called for Rafat's immediate and unconditional release, arguing that his return would put him at se...