The spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that Mirza Katwazai, the former deputy of Afghanistan’s Wolesi Jirga (House of Representatives), has been arrested at Washington Dulles International Airport and is currently being held in detention.
According to information from the department, Katwazai is considered removable from the United States under Section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Officials say he was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection forces on May 27, 2026, and, following investigations, was suspected of violating immigration laws.
The DHS spokesperson said that Katwazai has been notified to appear before an immigration judge and will remain in custody of the relevant authorities until the completion of legal proceedings.
Under Section 240 of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals who have entered the country illegally or have violated the terms of their visa or residency are subject to deportation proceedings.
Well-informed sources had previously said that Mirza Katwazai came under investigation due to traveling to Afghanistan while holding a green card. According to these sources, he had traveled to the United States with his wife, but his wife was allowed to leave the airport.
Sources close to Katwazai have emphasized that he has not been arrested in any financial corruption case, but is only being questioned in relation to travel and immigration matters.
After the Taliban returned to power, Mirza Katwazai continued his business activities in Afghanistan. Last year, around twenty of his associates were arrested on charges of forging land documents, and the Taliban’s Commission for Preventing Land Grabbing had also called for the cancellation of some of his contracts.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
