A Muslim man claims his green card application has been denied after allegations he made about his treatment when detained by Border Patrol agents.
A report claiming Border Patrol agents served Adnan Asif Parveen pork sandwiches for days while detained prompted a New York Democratic congresswoman to intervene with a letter to the Department of Homeland Security asking for an investigation, and may have led to the denial of his green card, according to the Huffington Post.
The Spanish citizen, who was born in Pakistan, applied for a green card two years ago after he married a U.S. citizen, Although he had not received the green card yet, Asif was given a permit to legally work in the U.S. He is now being held at an ICE detention center in Port Isabel in South Texas.
He was detained by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for six days earlier this year, and claims that while he was there, he was only offered a pork sandwich every eight hours, which he refused to eat because he practices Islam, according to a Huffington Post report. Asif eventually ate just the bread after the guards supposedly did not give him an alternative to the pork, which was somehow the only thing on the menu for the six days he was held.
While Customs and Border Protection did not comment on the case due to privacy issues, a spokeswoman noted the agency’s detention standards.
“Without compromising officer/agent safety, officers/ agents should remain cognizant of an individual’s religious beliefs while accomplishing an enforcement action in a dignified and respectful manner,” the standards for “Religious Sensitivity” read.
Asif also alleged he was questioned about any ties he might have to terrorist groups and about the mosque he attends. His lawyers have filed a federal lawsuit seeking his release, alleging that the decision to reject his green card application was religiously motivated and came after HuffPost published the story with his claims.
“I feel like it’s simply because he’s Muslim,” Asif’s wife, Jennifer, told HuffPost. “All we have tried to do is be a family and be legal. Every step of the way has been completely complicated. It’s hard not to be discouraged.”
“I feel like it’s simply because he’s Muslim,” Jennifer Asif said after her husband was denied a green card. “All we have tried to do is be a family and be legal.” https://t.co/C0880ExJaf
— HuffPost (@HuffPost) March 8, 2019
Rep. Grace Meng sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen last week just based on the HuffPost story.
“When I read about Asif’s story, I was filled with disgust and rage over his treatment by CBP officers,” the New York Democrat, and member of the Department of Homeland Security subcommittee, said. “People should be treated with dignity and respect and CBP’s actions fall well short of that. Their treatment of Asif was not just un-American, but it was inhumane. Secretary Nielsen must provide answers about CBP’s treatment of Asif. DHS can’t run away from responsibility and I look forward to hearing from Secretary Nielsen.”
With U.S. officials not yet commenting on the allegations or the lawsuit, Asif’s claims have been carried by HuffPost and other liberal media outlets. Twitter users weighed in on the questionable claims and the green card issue.
The guy overstayed his travel visa! This amazing country granted him the right to visit. He was in blatant violation of this generosity. They shouldn’t have fed him pork, but he shouldn’t have broken visa rules, we don’t want rule breakers in this country, go home to Pakistan.
— American Molotov (@AmericanMolotov) March 8, 2019
If they fed him pork. I’m not buying that for a minute.
— Becki Sue (@BurrissRebecca) March 8, 2019
sensationalism
— TokenWhiteTrash (@BradVbizzle) March 8, 2019
Well, “I feel like” ppl who so easily and casually scream “xenophobia” and “racism” should be regarded as the opportunist that they are. Then ignored. Since the U.S. is such a bad place, just go home with him.
— DeepStateDiver (@DishonestyHuntr) March 8, 2019
You can’t try this whiny, “we tried to follow all laws and rules” BS, when you clearly and admittedly violated the terms of your 90 day travel visa. Get the fuck out of here with that baloney, pun intended.
— American Molotov (@AmericanMolotov) March 8, 2019
BS!
Ps
Don’t break the law!
— MBN (@MBNI_) March 2, 2019
If u really believe that ICE officers are terrible ppl then u have drunk the Kool aid. Come on…so they deliberately fed him pork? Enuf.
— Michael David Waresh (@mwaresh1) March 2, 2019
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- Minnesota Dems promote bills to ban gas-powered lawnmowers, chainsaws - February 18, 2023
- KJP shows off her contempt for Trump with unnecessary jab during comms director’s sendoff - February 11, 2023
- DOJ ramps up a ‘mere review’ to full-fledged investigation after latest Biden doc discovery - January 12, 2023
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
