DALLAS, Texas — A North Texas woman was released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody Tuesday night after spending nearly five months in detention, her attorney confirmed.
Ward Sakeik, a 22-year-old stateless Palestinian, was taken into custody in February by immigration officials at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. According to her attorney, Eric Lee, Sakeik was returning from her honeymoon in the U.S. Virgin Islands with her husband, Taahir Shaikh, a U.S. citizen, when authorities flagged her visa status during re-entry screening.
Following her arrest, Sakeik was transferred to the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, where she remained for approximately 140 days.
Efforts to deport her included at least one removal attempt on June 12, despite a federal court order temporarily blocking her deportation. During that attempt, immigration officials tried to transfer her to Israel’s border before ultimately returning her to detention.
Her legal team and husband worked over several months to advocate for her release, arguing that her stateless status and pending green card application made prolonged detention unwarranted.
Although Sakeik is now free, her case remains active. Her attorneys are continuing to seek a resolution to her immigration status and to advance her permanent residency process.
ICE has not released a public statement regarding the case.