More than 3,000 individuals have signed a petition calling on Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett to intervene and prevent the deportation of Ward Sakeik, a 22-year-old Palestinian-American wedding photographer from Dallas. Sakeik was detained after returning from her honeymoon in February, when she arrived in Miami from the U.S. Virgin Islands. She has spent nearly five months being transferred between various immigration detention centers.
Last week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW) reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed Sakeik’s legal team of her imminent deportation. Her latest confirmed location is the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. During an emergency press conference held by CAIR-DFW last Thursday, Sakeik’s husband, Taahir Shaikh, revealed that he hadn’t been in contact with her for two days.
Congresswoman Crockett acknowledged her awareness of Sakeik’s situation and stated that her office is actively engaging with federal agencies to seek a fair resolution. She has been critical of the immigration policies established during the Trump administration, deeming them “cruel and unnecessary.” In her statement, Crockett emphasized the injustice of separating families and the distressing use of immigration enforcement to instill fear in communities.
Sakeik has lived in the U.S. since she was eight years old. Although born in Saudi Arabia to Palestinian refugee parents, she does not hold citizenship in either nation. Her husband, a U.S. citizen, has submitted a green card application on her behalf. It’s important to note that Sakeik has consistently attended all required immigration appointments.
CAIR-DFW’s Executive Director, Mustafaa Carroll, condemned the situation, asserting that it’s inhumane for someone who has adhered to U.S. immigration rules to face deportation, especially when it separates her from her spouse. The organization pointed out that, in March, ICE also detained another Palestinian activist, Leqaa Kordia, raising concerns over the treatment of Palestinian and Palestinian-American individuals by immigration authorities.
As the situation develops, many hope for a positive outcome for Sakeik, who has demonstrated compliance with U.S. immigration policies. The powerful advocacy by her community, along with increased awareness and support, could potentially lead to a favorable resolution in her case.