Husband-to-be rejoiced in union with soulmate... until ICE identified her upon arrival in US Virgin Islands during HONEYMOON.
A joyous newlywed found herself in an unexpected predicament when she was abruptly detained by ICE upon arriving in the US Virgin Islands for her honeymoon. Hailing from Arlington, Texas, Ward Sakeik was taken into custody, leaving her husband, Taahir Shaikh, devastated.
Sakeik, a Palestinian refugee born in Saudi Arabia, had lived her life as a stateless person due to US officials rejecting her family's asylum application when she was eight. Her family was ordered to check in with immigration annually, yet she had always complied. The discovery of her stateless status transpired during their honeymoon.
The bewildered couple believed the US Virgin Islands to be a secure location for their romantic getaway. taahir, himself, a UT Arlington graduate and a photographer, could only communicate with his wife through video calls and weekly visitations. Sakeik spent several months in detention centers in Texas, including McAllen and Prairieland, leaving her newly married life far from what she had anticipated at the start of the year.
Over 120 days have passed since Sakeik's detainment, and her earnest green card application has remained on hold. Shaikh has hired immigration lawyers, hoping to secure his wife's release. He emphasizes that, despite her stateless status, Sakeik has always sought to build a lawful permanent residence.
Detaining stateless individuals for an extended period—over 120 days, for instance—presents unique legal challenges. Stateless persons detained by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can find relief through legal options like bond hearings, habeas corpus petitions, requests for humanitarian release, and administrative relief.
In cases where removal is implausible, due process arguments can be particularly influential. Legal advocacy organizations intervene to secure release and shine a light on potential constitutional violations. Strong community ties, family responsibilities, and a history of compliance with ICE can also support arguments for release.
Ultimately, stateless individuals detained by ICE for extended periods have legal recourse, and their constitutional rights must be upheld. If removal is unattainable, continued detention may be deemed unjustified. Legal advocacy is essential in these circumstances to secure release and ensure due process.
- The unexpected detainment of Sakeik, a stateless person, by ICE significantly impacted her new life, as her green card application remains on hold, prompting her husband, Taahir Shaikh, to hire immigration lawyers for her release.
- In cases like Sakeik's, stateless individuals detained by ICE for extended periods, legal options such as bond hearings, habeas corpus petitions, and administrative relief can be valuable, with due process arguments being particularly influential when removal is implausible.
