Ahmed Nenni, a 29-year-old truck driver from Mauritania, is currently in the custody of federal immigration authorities after being arrested during a routine inspection at a weigh station in northern Indiana on October 16. His wife, Elizabeth Nenni, expressed deep concern for his welfare, highlighting that Ahmed is in the process of seeking asylum and has submitted an application for a green card.
Elizabeth, a chiropractic assistant and U.S. citizen, shared that her husband has maintained a clean record and has been a responsible taxpayer. She described the situation surrounding his arrest, where he was detained by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Indiana State Police without any prior notice of legal issues. “His record is clean. He has never had a criminal record and was a tax-paying individual,” she emphasized.
The Department of Homeland Security has acknowledged Ahmed’s detention, revealing that he entered the United States unlawfully on September 15, 2023, in San Diego. Previously released under the Biden administration, Ahmed now faces a daunting immigration process, with his asylum case and an I-130 marriage application pending. His immigration hearing is scheduled for 2027 in New York.
This arrest is part of ICE’s “Operation Midway Blitz,” which has been intensifying under the policies of the Trump administration, targeting undocumented truck drivers. Critics of these operations argue that they disproportionately affect vulnerable migrants, while supporters assert that they are essential for enforcing immigration laws and maintaining road safety. Elizabeth contended that her husband meets the rigorous standards being called for, including fluency in English.
During the arrest, Ahmed was subjected to shackling with handcuffs, ankle cuffs, and a waist chain. Elizabeth recounted a concerning interaction where an ICE agent remarked, “Now you’re not a virgin anymore,” when he learned that Ahmed had never been handcuffed before. Following his initial detention in Chicago, Ahmed was moved to the Joe Corley Processing Center in Conroe, Texas.
Elizabeth raised concerns over the conditions of Ahmed’s detention, revealing that he was denied restroom access and water during a two-hour flight. “Since he’s been detained, they have limited his food supply,” she said, adding that, as a Muslim, Ahmed cannot eat pork and has been forced to skip meals. To support him, she has been sending money for food, but options at the detention center are severely limited, primarily to low-cost items like ramen and canned goods.
Amid escalating anxiety over her husband’s situation, Elizabeth disclosed that Ahmed has accepted voluntary deportation, believing it to be the best legal option presented to him. She voiced her frustrations about the detention conditions, stating, “I believe they do everything in their power to make living conditions so terrible that the detainees have no choice but to self-deport.”
As Ahmed remains in ICE custody, Elizabeth continues to cope with the emotional strain of their distressing situation, expressing her longing for a return to normalcy. “I just want my life to go back to normal and have my husband back. Every day I cry about our situation,” she lamented. The Nenni family’s experiences underscore the profound human impact of immigration enforcement and the complexities faced by those navigating the U.S. immigration system.