Later this afternoon, the Dallas–Fort Worth chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-DFW) will hold an emergency press conference (Thursday, June 12, at 4 p.m. CT) to address U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) apparent plan to deport Ward Sakeik to an undisclosed location as early as tonight.
Sakeik is a Stateless Palestinian who arrived in the US lawfully at the age of eight and was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon returning from her honeymoon in February 2025.
Despite a pending green-card application, a lawful marriage to a U.S. citizen, and a spotless compliance record for the past 15 years, ICE has notified Sakeik’s legal counsel that Sakeik could be removed as early as tonight—but will not disclose the destination country. Sakeik’s husband fears she could be sent to a country that she has no birth or national ties to, after
being given a life to live here for 15 years.
Sakeik has been detained for several months, and her current whereabouts are unknown. Her husband has been recently unable to contact her and has received few answers from ICE officials.
CAIR-DFW is calling on ICE to halt the deportation, disclose Sakeik’s whereabouts, and release her to pursue her lawful adjustment of status.
NEWS CONFERENCE DETAILS
WHEN: Thursday, June 12, 2025 – 4 p.m. CDT
WHERE: Hexa Coworking Event Center, 2100 N. Greenville Ave., Richardson, TX 75080
MEDIA CONTACT: CAIR-DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll, (832) 549-1042, mcarroll@cair.com and muspeaks@gmail.com
“It is inhumane and shameful that a person who has followed every rule laid out by our government should be deported, especially a bride separated from her husband for simply taking a honeymoon,” said CAIR-DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll. “We demand transparency and justice before an irreversible mistake is made.”
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com