ICE releases Palestinian woman after months of controversial detention

In Texas, a stateless Palestinian woman spent nearly five months in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after her arrest in February while returning from her honeymoon in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ward Sakeik, who has lived in the U.S. since she was eight years old, was detained at the St. Thomas Airport and faced deportation despite her legal status being in a pending green card application due to her marriage to a U.S. citizen. Her family, originally from Gaza, had previously entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and applied for asylum, which was denied over a decade ago. Following an armed confrontation with ICE officials, who attempted to deport her twice in violation of a federal court order, her release in early July 2025 was attributed to mounting legal and public support efforts by her attorney and husband. This case raised significant concerns about the discretionary powers exercised by ICE and the treatment of stateless individuals within U.S. immigration policies, fueling a broader discussion on the implications these cases hold for immigrants. With Sakeik now back home, her situation serves as a crucial example of the intensive scrutiny surrounding U.S. immigration enforcement actions and their impacts on families and individuals affected by such policies.