Henrico Teen Detained by ICE

An HCPS high school student – whose family fled Afghanistan for safety reasons in 2021, was taken into custody by ICE last week.
According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, ICE agents arrested Arman Momand shortly after a court appearance at the Henrico County courthouse. Momand faced charges for a driving incident in December 2024, in which he was arrested by police for reckless driving, evading police and driving without a license. The most serious charges against Momand were ultimately dropped by Henrico prosecutors. The case was resolved — Momand pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and reckless driving — with no jail time ordered by the judge.

Momand is a student at J. R. Tucker High School in Henrico County.

Despite the resolution of the case, he was picked up by ICE moments after his hearing. His defense lawyer, Casey Coleman, said his father “made significant contributions to the U.S. government in Afghanistan.” Momand’s family is here on a special visa because of that support.

Virginia State Senator Schulyer VanValkenburg says the federal government needs to release Momand immediately. “This is wrong”, VanValkenburg posted on social media, “we are turning our back on a family who helped America, who sacrificed for us. We had their back until now. The Trump administration is inhumanely sending a minor back to a country he had to flee because his family helped us”.

Henrico School Board member Madison Irving, who represents the Three Chopt District agrees. Irving says he agrees with VanValkenburg. “This is a disgusting act and shouldn’t be tolerated. Immigrants should feel welcome in Henrico – they make us stronger”, Irving posted.

Misty Roundtree, who represents the Three Chopt district on the Henrico Board of Supervisors posted, “estimates are that more than 50k interpreters worked alongside US forces over a 20 year span (of the War on Terror). They did so at indescribable risk (and actual harm) to themselves and their families”. Roundtree says “it is undisputed and wholly without question that without their help, our soldiers would have faced nearly insurmountable odds in that environment”. These families were given protection in the US for their contributions to our troops. Protections that President Trump and Vice President JD Vance began dismantling on election day.

Roundtree says “For those who think driving charges justify his detainment (even after a Henrico judge decided they did not merit jail time) – I encourage you to come to Henrico Juvenile Court on traffic day. You’ll see plenty of “good kids” facing driving charges, kids who have likely not faced the hurdles in life of the teen who was taken by ICE on Friday”.

As a veteran of the U.S. Army herself, she goes on to speak to veterans and family members of veterans, “If you know someone who came back alive from serving in Afghanistan or Iraq, they probably owe it on some level to a native interpreter, whether they realize it or not.“

Governor Glenn Youngkin has been largely silent on this issue, but has said he supports use of the Virginia National Guard to assist in ICE operations. In this case specifically he’s said “…they have every authority to go investigate this, and that’s what they’re doing.”

Momand remains at a Farmville detention center, according to the Times Dispatch.