Latest news with #WardSakeik
Time Business News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Time Business News
Heartbreaking Truths: Ward Sakeik's 140 Days in ICE Detention—A Newlywed's Ordeal and America's Immigration Challenge
Ward Sakeik, a 22-year-old stateless Palestinian woman and newlywed from Texas, has spoken out after enduring 140 days in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. Her harrowing experience, described as being 'treated like cattle,' has ignited a national debate about the treatment of stateless individuals and the broader realities of the US immigration system. Sakeik's account, delivered at an emotional press conference in Dallas-Fort Worth, has become a flashpoint for human rights advocates, legal experts, and immigrant communities across the United States and India. Ward Sakeik's story has become a rallying point for immigrant rights activists across the United States. Her detailed account of life in ICE detention has sparked protests outside federal buildings and detention centers, with demonstrators demanding better treatment for detainees and urgent reforms to immigration enforcement. Placards bearing her name and story have appeared at rallies, and her case is being cited in petitions to lawmakers calling for the end of prolonged detention for stateless individuals and those with pending legal status. The psychological scars left by Sakeik's detention are evident in her public statements. She has spoken about the constant fear and uncertainty that defined her daily existence, never knowing when she might be transferred, deported, or allowed to speak with her loved ones. The lack of access to basic comforts, such as fresh air, sunlight, and nutritious food, contributed to feelings of isolation and despair. Sakeik has described how even small acts of kindness from fellow detainees or rare moments of communication with her husband became lifelines in an otherwise bleak environment. Legal experts following her case point out that Sakeik's ordeal exposes significant gaps in the U.S. immigration system's handling of stateless persons. Without a country willing to accept her, Sakeik was trapped in a legal limbo, unable to return to her birthplace or move forward with her life in the United States. Advocates argue that her experience demonstrates the urgent need for new legislation that addresses the unique challenges faced by stateless individuals, including clearer guidelines for release and protection from indefinite detention. The broader implications of Sakeik's experience are being debated in legal circles and among policymakers. Some lawmakers have called for congressional hearings to investigate ICE detention practices and to consider reforms that would prevent similar cases in the future. There is growing support for the creation of a pathway to legal residency or citizenship for stateless residents who have lived in the U.S. for many years and have established deep ties to the community. Ward Sakeik's ordeal began in February 2025, shortly after returning from her honeymoon in the US Virgin Islands with her husband, Taahir Shaikh, a US citizen. The couple had deliberately chosen the Virgin Islands, a US territory, to avoid complications with international travel due to Sakeik's pending green card application. Despite these precautions, Sakeik was detained by ICE at Miami International Airport, still wearing her wedding ring and carrying documentation outlining her immigration status. Sakeik, who has lived in the United States since she was eight years old, was immediately separated from her husband and placed in handcuffs. 'I was just coming back from my honeymoon with my husband,' she recalled. 'Instead, I was shackled, handcuffed for 16 hours without food or water, and moved around like cattle.' Her initial shock quickly turned into a months-long ordeal marked by uncertainty, deprivation, and fear. During her 140 days in ICE custody, Sakeik was transferred between at least four detention facilities. She described being repeatedly shackled, forced to wear a gray tracksuit, and transported for hours without basic necessities. 'I was handcuffed for 16 hours without any water or food on the bus,' she said, recalling the physical and emotional toll of her detention. 'I was moved around like cattle. The US government tried to dump me in a part of the world where I had no idea where I was going, what I was doing.' Sakeik also reported being denied access to a phone for days at a time, unable to contact her husband or attorney. 'There were stretches—36 hours, 50 hours—when I was not allowed to call my attorney or my husband,' she recounted. 'ICE thugs told me I could contact my family and lawyer 'when you get to the country or when you get to the transfer or whenever you get wherever you're getting.'' The uncertainty and lack of communication exacerbated her distress, leaving her feeling powerless and alone. Sakeik's statelessness—born in Saudi Arabia but holding no citizenship—complicated her case. Despite living in the US for most of her life and being married to a US citizen, she was subject to a final removal order that had been in place for over a decade. Her family's original asylum request had been denied, but they were not deported due to their stateless status and instead placed under an order of supervision, requiring annual check-ins with immigration authorities. ICE attempted to deport Sakeik on at least two occasions, even as federal court orders barred her removal. The first deportation attempt involved taking her to the Israel border amid regional conflict, and the second came just a day before her eventual release. Both times, Sakeik was given no opportunity to contact her family or legal team. 'These deportations, they just happened all of a sudden—I was not given a phone call,' she said. Her legal team has condemned ICE's actions as unlawful and inhumane. The Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations of mistreatment, insisting that all detainees receive proper meals, medical care, and opportunities to communicate with family and lawyers. 'Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE,' said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. 'Any claim that there is a lack of food or subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are false.' However, Sakeik's account has resonated with advocates and the public, many of whom see her experience as emblematic of broader issues within the US immigration system. Human rights organizations have called for independent investigations into ICE detention practices, while legal experts argue that the treatment of stateless individuals like Sakeik exposes fundamental flaws in current policies. The case has also drawn attention in India, where debates about statelessness, refugee rights, and the treatment of immigrants are ongoing. For Sakeik, the psychological impact of her detention has been profound. 'I lost five months of my life because I was criminalized for being stateless, something I have absolutely no control over. I didn't choose to be stateless,' she said. The experience has left her questioning the values she was taught growing up in America. 'The humanity that I was taught in school growing up is not the humanity that I've seen. It was stripped away from me.' Her release, just 48 hours before her press conference, was a moment of overwhelming relief. 'I was overfilled with joy and a little shock,' she said. 'It was my first time seeing a tree in five months.' Sakeik is now focused on rebuilding her life, reuniting with her husband, and advocating for others who remain in detention. Sakeik's husband, Taahir Shaikh, has emerged as a vocal advocate for her and others in similar situations. He has given interviews describing the emotional toll of being separated from his wife and the frustration of navigating a complex and often unresponsive bureaucracy. His efforts to raise awareness have included organizing community meetings, reaching out to elected officials, and collaborating with immigrant support organizations to push for systemic change. The outpouring of support for Sakeik has extended beyond the United States, with international human rights groups and diaspora communities expressing solidarity. In India, where issues of statelessness and refugee rights are also pressing concerns, her story has resonated with activists and policymakers. Debates in Indian media have drawn parallels between Sakeik's ordeal and the experiences of stateless populations in South Asia, highlighting the global nature of the problem. Despite her release, Sakeik continues to face uncertainty regarding her future in the United States. Her legal team is working to secure her permanent residency, but the process is fraught with bureaucratic hurdles and the risk of further detention. Sakeik has expressed determination to use her experience as a platform to advocate for others, vowing to speak out until meaningful change is achieved for all stateless individuals in America. Her case has also prompted discussions about the mental health needs of detainees. Medical professionals and psychologists have called for increased access to counseling and support services for those held in immigration detention, noting the long-term effects of trauma and isolation. Sakeik's willingness to share her story publicly has helped destigmatize the mental health struggles faced by many in detention. Ward Sakeik's 140-day ordeal in ICE detention has become a symbol of the urgent need for immigration reform and greater compassion in the treatment of vulnerable individuals. As her story continues to inspire advocacy and debate, it serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic indifference and the resilience of those who refuse to be silenced by injustice. Author Credits TIME BUSINESS NEWS
NDTV
06-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Handcuffed For 16 Hours, Treated Like Cattle": Newlywed Bride Recounts US Detention Horror
A 22-year-old Palestinian woman from Texas, who recently got married to a US citizen, has spoken out about her harrowing experience in immigration detention. Ward Sakeik, born in Saudi Arabia but without citizenship in any country, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Miami International Airport in February after returning from her honeymoon. She spent 140 days in custody, where she claims she was treated poorly, likening her experience to being treated like "cattle." Ms Sakeik was released from immigration detention on Thursday, July 3, after more than four months in confinement. Before her arrest, she had been complying with ICE requirements, regularly checking in as mandated. After her release, Ms Sakeik expressed her mixed emotions, saying she felt joyful and shocked, notably mentioning it was her first time seeing a tree in five months. "I lost five months of my life because I was criminalised for being stateless, something that I have no control over. I didn't choose to be stateless. I didn't do a crime that made me stateless. I had no choice. I was just stateless," Ms Sakeik said during a press conference, as reported by ABC News. "I have been a law-abiding resident of the United States since I was 8 years old. I went to college. I run a successful wedding photographer business here in DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth), and I recently married Taahir," Ms Sakeik added. She also stated that the US government had attempted to deport her to a part of the world where she did not know her destination or situation. "I was handcuffed for 16 hours without any water or food on the bus. I have moved around like cattle. And, the US government attempted to dump me in a part of the world where I don't know where I'm going and what I'm doing or anything," she said. Notably, the 22-year-old was born in Saudi Arabia but is stateless. She moved to the US at age 8 and had been living there for most of her life. What happened at the detention centre? During the press conference, she recounted her experience, describing how she was immediately put in a grey tracksuit and shackles after her arrest. Ms Sakeik alleged she was transferred between three detention centres, facing harsh conditions at each. During her first transfer, she spent 16 hours on a bus without eating, as she was fasting for Ramadan, the Guardian reported. "We were not given any water or food, and we could smell the driver eating Chick-fil-A. We would ask for water, bang on the door for food, and he would just turn up the radio and act like he wasn't listening to us," she said. She eventually broke her fast in the intake room, near a toilet, due to the dire circumstances. At the Prairieland detention centre, she reported that the dusty environment was causing widespread illness among the women detainees. "The restrooms are also very, very, very unhygienic. The beds have rust everywhere. They're not properly maintained. And cockroaches, grasshoppers, spiders, you name it, are all over the facility. Girls would get bit," she added. Why was she arrested? Ward Sakeik and her husband, US citizen Taahir Shaikh, had chosen the US Virgin Islands for their honeymoon to avoid international travel complications while her green card application was pending. However, upon their return, immigration authorities detained her. The Department of Homeland Security later stated that she had flown over international waters and was flagged by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) while trying to re-enter the continental US. However, the US Virgin Islands are a US territory that doesn't require a passport for travel. US officials also said she overstayed her visa and had a removal order for years. Why is she stateless? Ward Sakeik, born in Saudi Arabia to a family from Gaza, is stateless due to Saudi Arabia's policy of not granting citizenship to children of foreigners. At age 8, her family arrived in the US on a tourist visa and later applied for asylum, which was denied. Although she received a deportation order over a decade ago, Ms Sakeik was allowed to remain in the US under an "order of supervision." This arrangement required her to regularly check in with federal immigration authorities and granted her work authorisation, according to her lawyer and husband. Ms Sakeik went on to graduate from high school and the University of Texas, Arlington, started a wedding photography business, and married Taahir Shaikh. She had also begun the process of obtaining a green card. Ms said she now plans to continue to advocate on behalf of those who remain in ICE detention. "I also want the world to know that the women who do come here come here for a better life, but they're criminalised for that. They are dehumanised, and they're stripped away from their rights. We have been treated as a 'less-than' just simply for wanting a better life," she said.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DHS Dismisses Palestinian Woman's Treatment In ICE Detention As 'Sob Story'
A Palestinian woman released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention on Tuesday says she and others faced mistreatment while detained. Still, the Department of Homeland Security dismissed her account as one of many 'sob stories.' 'The entire detention process was not great. I wouldn't wish this upon anybody. It was very hard, very traumatizing, and very, very difficult, is what I would say,' Ward Sakeik told CNN's Danny Freeman on Saturday morning. Sakeik, 22, a stateless person whose family is from Gaza, was born in Saudi Arabia, a country that does not grant birthright citizenship to children of foreign-born parents, according to The Guardian. She entered the U.S. legally under a tourist visa when she was 8 and was allowed to remain, as long as she regularly checked in with ICE. After getting married, she began the process of obtaining a green card, but was taken by ICE officials in February on her way back to Texas from her honeymoon in the Virgin Islands, a U.S. territory. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CNN that Sakeik's arrest was not part of a targeted operation by ICE, but that she was flagged by Customs and Border Patrol trying to reenter the U.S. after flying over international waters. In a statement shared with HuffPost, McLaughlin said Sakeik was not 'complying with immigration policies.' 'The facts are she is in our country illegally,' McLaughlin said. 'She overstayed her visa and has had a final order by an immigration judge for over a decade.' Sakeik was released Tuesday and appeared at a press conference where she talked about her experience, saying she was handcuffed for 16 hours without any water or food on a bus. 'I was moved around like cattle, and the U.S. government attempted to dump me in a part of the world where I don't know where I'm going and what I'm doing or anything,' Sakeik said. Sakeik went on to describe her conditions, which she said included unhygienic restrooms, rusted beds and insects that bit other detained migrants. 'I was criminalized for being stateless, something that I absolutely have no control over,' she said. 'I didn't choose to be stateless. I had no choice.' She is now using her experience to advocate for others who are facing the same treatment, including women she met in detention. 'A lot of these women don't have the money for lawyers or media outreach. They come here to provide for their families and that's pretty much it,' Sakeik said. 'They're mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers. They're superheroes. They are humans and their lives hold values and I will continue to fight with them, for them, every single step of the way.' In the statement shared with HuffPost, McLaughlin said 'any claim that there is a lack of food or subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are false,' and that those who are detained are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and opportunities to talk with family members and lawyers. 'Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE. Meals are certified by dieticians,' McLaughlin said. 'Why does the media continue to fall for the sob stories of illegal aliens in detention and villainize ICE law enforcement?' DHS had given the same statement to Newsweek earlier this week. Sakeik's attorney, Eric Lee, responded to McLaughlin's comments Saturday morning on CNN. 'They called it a 'sob story,'' Lee said. 'I guess what we would ask the American people is, 'Who are they gonna believe, their lying eyes or the statements of the people who are responsible for carrying out what are really crimes against humanity here in the United States?'' Earlier this month, NPR published a report on inhumane conditions at ICE facilities, interviewing more than a dozen detainees, family members and lawyers who described issues like severe overcrowding and lack of food. The Big-Box Store Caught Up In Trump's Immigration Crackdown Cities Are Canceling Fourth Of July Events Over Immigration Raid Fears You Can Actually Help Kneecap Trump's 'Mass Deportation' Arrests. Here's How.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US tries to deport stateless Palestinian woman again despite judge's order
The US government has tried for the second time to deport a stateless Palestinian woman, according to court documents – despite a judge's order barring her removal. Ward Sakeik, a 22-year-old newlywed, was detained in February on her way home from her honeymoon in the US Virgin Islands. Last month, the government attempted to deport her without informing her where she was being sent, according to her husband, Taahir Shaikh. An officer eventually told her that she would be sent to the Israel border – just hours before Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. After her lawyers filed suit on her behalf, US district judge Ed Kinkeade issued an order on 22 June barring the government from deporting Sakeik or removing her from the Texas district where she is being detained while her case is decided. But on Monday, the government tried once again to deport her. Officers at the detention facility woke her up early in the morning on Monday, and told her she 'had to leave'. When she tried to tell the officer there was a court order blocking her removal, the officer responded: 'It's not up to me.' 'Sakeik informed me that when she arrived at intake, her belongings had been placed outside the door,' her lawyer testified in court documents. Sakeik's family is from Gaza, but she was born in Saudi Arabia, which does not grant birthright citizenship to the children of foreigners. She and her family came to the US on a tourist visa when she was eight and applied for asylum – but were denied. She has had deportation orders since she was nine years old, but she and her family were allowed to remain in Texas as long as they complied with requirements to check in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Eventually, she graduated from high school in Mesquite, Texas, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas Arlington and started a wedding photography business. On 31 January, she had a wedding of her own. She applied for a green card, and the first stage of her application was approved. 'The past 12 months of my life have just been the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows. You go from buying your first home, planning your dream wedding, attending that wedding, going on your honeymoon, to being separated for over 120 days,' said her husband, a US citizen, in a press conference in June. Due to Sakeik's immigration status, the couple had deliberately chosen not to travel internationally for their honeymoon, deciding to explore the Virgin Islands, a US territory, instead. On 11 February, a Customs and Border Protection officer stopped Sakeik and asked for proof she was under an 'order of supervision', allowing her to remain in the US despite deportation orders. Sakeik was kept handcuffed on the plane to Miami, according to ABC News, where the couple's flight back to Texas had a layover. The couple was told she would be released there. But she has been held in detention ever since. Shaikh has struggled to cope in the weeks since. He sleeps in the guest room of the house they purchased together, rather than the master bed, he told the Dallas Morning News last month. 'I don't sit on my couch when I eat my meals, I sit on the floor,' he said, out of survivor's guilt. The Department of Homeland Security claimed that Sakeik was flagged because she 'chose to fly over international waters and outside the US customs zone and was then flagged by CBP trying to re-enter the continental US'. 'The facts are she is in our country illegally. She overstayed her visa and has had a final order by an immigration judge for over a decade,' said assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin. McLaughlin did not address the Guardian's question about why the government tried to deport Sakeik despite a judge's order barring her removal.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
A newlywed was shackled by ICE officers after her US honeymoon: ‘Moved like cattle, no food or water'
A newlywed Palestinian woman from Texas says she was shackled, denied food and water, and 'moved around like cattle' during nearly five months in US immigration custody, all for being stateless. Ward Sakeik, 22, who has lived in the United States since she was eight years old, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in February while returning from her honeymoon in the US Virgin Islands. Despite a court order barring her deportation, she remained in detention for 140 days until her release earlier this week. 'I did lose five months of my life because I was criminalised for being stateless, something that I absolutely have no control over,' Sakeik said during a press conference in Texas on Thursday, according to an ABC News report. 'Humanity was stripped away from me.' After her detention, the US government attempted to deport her twice. During the first attempt, she was told she would be taken to the Israeli border, at the very moment Israel was launching airstrikes on Iran. The second time, authorities again moved to deport her, despite a judge's order explicitly prohibiting her removal from Texas. 'I was moved around like cattle and the US government attempted to dump me in part of the world where I don't know where I'm going and what I'm doing or anything,' Sakeik said. As per a report in The Guardian, Sakeik was born in Saudi Arabia to a family originally from Gaza, but because the kingdom does not grant citizenship to children of foreign nationals, she entered the US with her family in 2011 on a tourist visa. The family later applied for asylum. Though she was issued a deportation order as a child, she was allowed to remain in the country under an 'order of supervision,' a designation that allowed her to work and regularly check in with immigration authorities. Over the years, Sakeik graduated from high school, earned a degree from the University of Texas at Arlington, and built, what she called 'a successful wedding photography business'. Earlier this year, she married 28-year-old Taahir Shaikh, a US citizen, and filed for a green card. The initial phase of her application was approved while she remained in detention. A post shared by @justiceforwardsakeik ICE tried to deport her again, in violation of the court order and existing protections under the Biden administration's Deferred and Forced Departure (DED) policy for Palestinians, according to her attorneys. 'She had the right to travel to a US territory, which is what she did,' said attorney Maria Kari. 'This young couple researched their options, they went to the US Virgin Islands, a domestic flight, yet here we are with Ward having spent nearly five months in detention as a result.' The Department of Homeland Security was quote in The Guardian as claiming that Sakeik was flagged because she 'chose to fly over international waters and outside the US customs zone' and was stopped by Customs and Border Protection while attempting to re-enter the continental US. However, the US Virgin Islands are a US territory, and no passport is required for travel there. 'The facts are: she is in our country illegally. She overstayed her visa and has had a final order by an immigration judge for over a decade,' said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. Sakeik described the conditions at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas, from where she was released on Tuesday, as 'inhumane,' citing dirty bathrooms, rusted beds, and insect infestations. 'The restrooms are also very, very, very much unhygienic. The beds have rust everywhere, are not properly maintained — ants, cockroaches, grasshoppers, spiders all over the facility. Girls will get bit. Girls will wake up with giant bruises,' she said. A DHS official told ABC News that Sakeik was released after she filed the proper applications to adjust her status based on her marriage. Her attorneys rejected that explanation, saying ICE continued to pursue her deportation even after learning her green card petition had been approved. 'We thought the US government didn't recognise Palestine as a country,' said attorney Eric Lee. 'Apparently, that wasn't a problem when they tried to deport her there…to a place that's experiencing a genocide.' Sakeik's family remains stateless, and she is still navigating the legal process to gain permanent residency. In the meantime, she says she plans to advocate for others in ICE custody. 'Women come here seeking a better life, but they're criminalised for that. They are dehumanised, and they're stripped away from their rights. We have been treated as a 'less-than' just simply for wanting a better life,' she said. 'I want to speak up for those who are still inside.'
