Stateless Palestinian woman detained after honeymoon released from Ice jail | US immigration
Ward Sakeik, a stateless Palestinian woman who was detained in February on the way back from her honeymoon, was released from immigration detention after more than four months of imprisonment.
At a press conference on Thursday, “I was overly full of joy and a little shock,” he said. “I mean, it was the first time to see a tree in five months.”
He ran to her husband who came to take him. “Oh my God, I can touch without handcuffs and without glasses. This was just freedom.”
22 -year -old Sakeik was detained in February on his way home from the honeymoon of the US Virgin Islands. Before he was arrested, he had complied with the requirements to control migration and customs execution since he was nine years old.
After being detained, the US government – twice – tried to deport it. It was said that he was taken to the Israeli border for the first time – just like Israel started air strikes in Iran. For the second time, Sakeik was told once again that he would be deported – despite the order of a judge that prevented the removal of his own Texas province.
Sakeik’s family was born from Gaza in Saudi Arabia, which did not give citizenship to the children of foreigners. He and his family came to the United States with a tourist visa when Sakeik was eight years old and applied for asylum, but was rejected. As long as they complied with the need to control immigration and customs clearance sanctions, the family was allowed to stay in Texas.
In recent years, Sakeik graduated from high school and college at the University of Arlington, Texas, founded a wedding photography business and married her husband 28 -year -old Taahir Shaikh. It started the process of receiving a green card.
He and her husband bought a house and started the renovation process.
However, 10 days after the wedding, Sakeik’s life rose on his way back. Im I got married to the love of my life. We spent 36 hours of renewed home for six months, ”he said. “A few hours after returning from our honeymoon, I was put into a gray tracksuit and shackles.”
She joined Sakeik for her husband, lawyers and community leaders. press conferenceIn a hotel in Texas, Irving, he has photographed weddings before. Im I never thought I was going back to this hotel, making a speech about something extremely personal, ”he said.
Sakeik said that he was transferred between three different detention centers and faced sad conditions at various points. During his first transfer, he passed on the bus for 16 hours. “We were not given water or food and we can eat the driver chick elephant,” he said. “We will ask for water, we will hit the door for dinner, and just open the radio and act as if not listening to us.”
Sakeik said he didn’t eat because he fasted for Ramadan. Finally he said: “I fasted next to a toilet in the entrance room.”
In Prairieland Detention Center, Sakeik said, “Women are getting sick and right,” he said.
“Toilets are very, very, very crushed. The beds are rusting everywhere.
Sakeik was busy with concern to be deported. He was worried that he would be arrested if he had been sent to Israel without documents proving his nationality.
Im I was guilty of being stateless, something I certainly didn’t control, ”he said. “I didn’t choose to be stateless… I had no choice.”
The Department of Internal Security claimed that Sakeik had chosen to fly outside the international waters and the US Customs Region and was later marked because it was marked by the CBP. [Customs and Border Protection] The continent is trying to enter the US again ”.
However, the virgin islands are a US region and you do not need a passport to visit.
“Facts: illegally in our country. He has exceeded his visa and received the final order by the immigrant judge for more than ten years,” he said.
Despite the order of a judge, the agency did not answer questions about why he was trying to deport him despite the order. The agency then changed to add his statement: “He was released after making appropriate legal applications to stay in the American husband and the country and to be a legal permanent resident.”
Sakeik said he felt that he was released from his detention – but also contradicted all the women he knew during his imprisonment. They often continue to speak late, share food and follow the exercise videos provided by the detention facility.
“Most of these women do not have money for lawyers or media social assistance,” he said. “If you watch this, I love you and I will continue to fight for you every day.”
