Virginia:Kashmiri filmmaker Arfat Sheikh was detained by US immigration authorities shortly after arriving at Dulles Airport in Virginia, as reported by an advocacy campaign.

According to Anadolu Agency, the detention occurred on September 24, 2026. The Support Arfat Sheikh's Release campaign called the detention unlawful. Sheikh, 42, who lives in Alexandria, Virginia, came to the US on a student visa to study film at Georgia State University and applied for asylum in 2020, as stated by his friend Azad Essa on social media.

Essa also mentioned that Sheikh has active work and residency authorization under a pending immigration application. Sheikh is currently held at the Caroline Detention Center in Bowling Green, Virginia.

Sheikh is expected to appear before an immigration judge for a procedural hearing and bond assessment. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security have not commented on the situation.

Sheikh earned international acclaim for his debut feature film, "Saffron Kingdom," which was shown in over 100 theaters and streamed in 175 countries. The film won multiple awards, including Best Feature Film at the Anatolian International Film Awards, Chicago Filmmakers Award, and Los Angeles Film and Documentary Awards, and an Emerging Filmmaker award at the Teaneck International Film Festival.