Lawyer Describes Afghan Dad’s US Military Work

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — An attorney for an Afghan family who traveled to the United States on special visas and were detained by immigration officials in Los Angeles says the father worked for the U.S. military for more than a decade.

The father, mother and three young sons were detained Thursday after they arrived at the LA airport for a connecting flight to Washington state, where they planned to resettle. They were released Monday.

Attorney Rob Blume says the father worked different jobs for the U.S. military in Afghanistan for more than a decade and was assaulted and shot during his time there.

Lawyers say the family went through a more than yearlong process to obtain special immigrant visas, which are given to foreigners who work for the U.S. military in their countries.

Government officials say the family will be interviewed April 5 to determine if they're eligible to use the visas to stay in the country.