Detained After Honeymoon: A Young Woman’s Ordeal in US Immigration Custody
Ward Sakeik, a 22-year-old Palestinian woman from Texas, spent nearly five harrowing months in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after returning from her honeymoon in the US Virgin Islands. Shackled, denied food and water, and repeatedly moved between detention centers, Sakeik’s experience highlights the struggles faced by stateless individuals caught in immigration limbo.
Ignoring Court Orders: The Attempts to Deport Despite Legal Protections
Despite a judge’s explicit order preventing her deportation from Texas, authorities attempted to deport Sakeik twice. The first attempt involved plans to send her to the Israeli border at a time when tensions between Israel and Iran were escalating. The second deportation effort disregarded the judicial ruling altogether.
“I was moved around like cattle, with no clear destination, no understanding of where I was headed,” said Sakeik during a press conference in Texas. “Being criminalized for my statelessness—something beyond my control—cost me five months of my life and stripped away my humanity.”
Her Background and Legal Status
Born in Saudi Arabia to a family from Gaza, Sakeik never acquired Saudi citizenship due to the kingdom’s strict nationality laws. She entered the US in 2011 on a tourist visa with her family and later sought asylum. Although issued a deportation order as a child, she remained in the country under an ‘order of supervision’ that allowed her to work legally and report regularly to immigration authorities.
Over the years, she completed high school, graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, and successfully ran her wedding photography business. Earlier in 2025, she married Taahir Shaikh, a US citizen, and filed for a green card. While detained, the initial phase of this application was approved.
Controversy Over Travel and Detention Conditions
Sakeik’s trip to the US Virgin Islands—an American territory—was considered legal travel, yet ICE flagged her because her flight path crossed international waters. The Department of Homeland Security claimed her detention was due to re-entry issues outside the US customs zone, though this rationale has been widely disputed.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin maintained, “She is in our country illegally and has had a deportation order for over a decade.”
Describing her time at the Prairieland Detention Center in Texas, Sakeik recounted “inhumane” conditions, including unsanitary restrooms, rusted beds, and insect infestations. She explained, “Girls would wake up with bruises from insect bites. The facility was poorly maintained and degrading.”
Legal Advocates Challenge ICE Actions
Sakeik’s attorneys argue that ICE’s actions violated both court orders and protections established by the Biden administration’s Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) policy for Palestinians. Attorney Maria Kari noted, “Traveling to a US territory is legal. This young couple exercised their rights, yet she spent months detained unjustly.”
Despite Sakeik filing the necessary paperwork to adjust her status through marriage, ICE reportedly pursued deportation efforts even after approving her green card petition.
Legal expert Eric Lee commented, “The US government claims not to recognize Palestine as a country, yet they tried to deport her there amidst ongoing conflict that amounts to genocide.”
A Fight Beyond Personal Liberty: Advocacy for the Stateless and Detained
While Sakeik’s legal battle continues, and her family remains stateless, she has committed to raising awareness about the plight of immigrants held in ICE custody. She emphasized, “Women come here seeking better lives, yet are criminalized and dehumanized. I want to give voice to those still detained and treated as less than human.”
