Afghan man living in Phoenix sentenced for illegal firearm possession

A man from Afghanistan who has unlawfully lived in Phoenix for years was sentenced to almost two years in prison, authorities announced Monday.

A judge sentenced 30-year-old Syed Haider Najib to 22 months in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.

Prosecutors said the sentence came after he pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, in this case, someone illegally in the United States.

Why was the Afghan man sentenced for having a gun?

Najib has been illegally in the U.S. since at least March 8, 2018, when his asylum application was denied and a U.S. immigration judge issued a final order of removal, prosecutors said.

However, because Afghanistan is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, he was not ordered to return to his home country.

Instead, he was ordered to be removed to a third country, but one could not be found for him. He was then released from custody, prosecutors said.

Because he lacks legal immigration status, Najib is prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Nonetheless, FBI agents found photos and videos of Najib with a firearm on social media in 2023.

Agents with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations found an AR-15-style rifle, a high-capacity magazine and more than 175 rounds of ammunition in his car in October 2023, prosecutors said.

He has agreed to forfeit the weapon and ammunition as part of his plea deal with the government.

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