We, the undersigned U.S. citizens and constituents of Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, write to you on behalf of Women Without Borders, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the safety and dignity of vulnerable women worldwide.

We respectfully request your immediate attention and action in the case of Zeinab Bahrami, an Afghan refugee who has been unjustly detained in U.S. immigration custody for nearly a year.

Zeinab Bahrami fled Afghanistan after enduring imprisonment and abuse by the Taliban. She and her husband arrived in the United States seeking asylum—a right protected under both U.S. and international law. However, due to administrative errors during the intake process, Zeinab was separated from her husband and placed into prolonged detention, where she remains today.

For nearly a year, Zeinab has been held in confinement without due process. Her court hearings have been delayed multiple times, leaving her without the opportunity to present her asylum claim. She poses no threat, has committed no crime, and seeks only to live in peace and dignity with her husband in the country that promised her safety.

We, as her fellow community members and citizens of this nation, ask that your office:

Initiate an inquiry with ICE and USCIS regarding the circumstances of her detention and the processing errors that caused it;
Support her immediate release from detention on humanitarian grounds;
Assist in reuniting her with her husband during the asylum process; and
Advocate for a fair and timely asylum hearing with access to appropriate legal counsel.

Zeinab Bahrami’s continued detention is not just a bureaucratic failure—it is a humanitarian crisis. Her story is a powerful reminder of why we must protect those who seek refuge and uphold the values of justice, compassion, and due process.

We urge you, as our representative in Virginia, to act swiftly and decisively to bring relief and justice to Zeinab Bahrami.

Respectfully,

Women Without Borders

On behalf of the undersigned constituents

Submitted by:

Christine Pourbabai

Managing Director, Women Without Borders

Email: cpourbabai@womenwithoutborder.org

Cell: 703-663-0206