“I was shaking and could barely move.”
Award-winning Kashmiri filmmaker Arfat Sheikh was released from ICE detention on bond.
He had been detained for two weeks by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement before his release.
A campaign run by his friends and relatives confirmed his recent release from detention.
The campaign stated that his bond was granted before his actual release.
He was finally released from detention on October 8, 2026, according to the campaign’s official statement.
The statement also confirmed that the deportation case against him continues despite his release.
Reuters reported that Sheikh was detained while coming off a flight from California.
This detention took place at the Washington Dulles International Airport on September 24, 2026.
Filmmaker Tara Dorabji, who was travelling with Sheikh, shared details about the incident afterwards.
She said they were travelling together from San Francisco to Dulles that particular day.
Dorabji said Sheikh was “pulled aside” on the jetway as they exited the aeroplane.
She recalled, “Arfat said to me, ‘Tara, Tara. This is ICE. They have come for me.’
“The men were in plain clothes and not wearing any uniforms that indicated that they were federal agents.”
She further said: “During the entire interaction, I never saw any of the men present a warrant or say why they were taking Arfat.
“They took Arfat Sheikh off the jetway onto the tarmac. He did not resist.”
“I was shaking and could barely move.”
The campaign said that Sheikh had a pending immigration application at the time of detention.
They claimed he was authorised to legally work and live in the United States.
However, the Department of Homeland Security offered a different version of events regarding his status.
They said Sheikh “legally entered the US on a temporary basis and illegally overstayed his lawful admittance.”
The department added that a pending application does not confer legal status in the country.
They also confirmed that the filmmaker will receive due process as his case proceeds further.
In August 2026, the Trump administration had spoken about tightening visa-related enforcement across the country.
They said they were working to identify and revoke visas of certain foreign nationals.
This included those who entered claiming short-term visits but later filed for asylum.
Arfat Sheikh hails from Jammu and Kashmir and has lived in the US for seven years.
He currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia, as per available reports about his case.
