An Afghan evacuee, who entered the U.S. last year through Joe Biden administration’s evacuation from Afghanistan, is charged with a child sex crime in New Mexico.
Warning: Graphic content
Last month, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico announced that Shah Mahmood Selab had made an initial appearance in federal court, reported Fox News. It was related to a charge of coercion and enticement of a minor. But at the time, he was not identified as an Afghan refugee.
He is accused of approaching a 12-year-old boy at a park near a school in Las Cruces. Selab is said to have asked him personal questions. He allegedly used his cellphone to show the victim "photos and videos that were sexual in nature." Then he is said to have inappropriately touched the boy.
When the child moved away, Selab allegedly punched him in the face multiple times. The complaint revealed that the boy tried to call 911. He retreated into a restroom stall, but was followed by Selab. Then he kissed the boy, put $20 into his hand and tried to force the child to touch him. The boy ultimately escaped when another person entered the restroom.
Officials said that if Selab is convicted, he faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in jail. Selab was paroled into the U.S. in November 2021. The office of Representative Yvette Herrell also confirmed that he was paroled and that law enforcement had verified that he was an Afghan national. He was paroled in through Operation Allies Welcome.
Herrell said in a statement that this is a "terrible crime, enabled by the complete lack of vetting and transparency in the wake of Joe Biden’s Afghanistan retreat." She added that the government should be "protecting the families of New Mexico, not importing twisted individuals who prey on children." She shared that is the reason why last year, she pushed for "thorough vetting of migrants that the Biden administration has brought to our communities, and why I continue to fight for accountability."
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said on Friday that Selab was paroled into the U.S. on Nov. 18, 2021 at Philadelphia International Airport, and ICE has now lodged a detainer on the 35-year-old man.
ICE places detainers on people who have been arrested on criminal charges. It also places detainers on individuals who ICE believes are removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
More than 88,000 Afghan nationals have come to the U.S. through Operation Allies Welcome. The operation was launched last year during the U.S. withdrawal effort from Afghanistan.
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