Stateless Palestinian Bride Detained 140 Days in US ICE Custody

Ward Sakeik, a 22-year-old stateless Palestinian woman married to a U.S. citizen, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for 140 days after returning from her honeymoon, during which she described being shackled, denied food and water for extended periods, and treated like "cattle." Sakeik, who has lived in the U.S. since age eight, reported being moved between multiple detention facilities, denied timely access to her attorney and husband, and subjected to attempted deportations despite federal court orders blocking her removal. ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have denied allegations of mistreatment, stating all detainees receive proper meals, medical care, and communication opportunities. The case highlights concerns amid President Donald Trump's administration's intensified immigration enforcement, which has already deported over 100,000 people during his second term and is associated with rising deaths in ICE custody. Advocacy groups attribute the increased mortality and harsh conditions to the administration's aggressive detention policies. Sakeik's situation underscores the challenges faced by stateless individuals under the U.S. immigration system.