A little over a year ago, as I pulled out of my home in Arlington, Texas, on an otherwise ordinary October morning, I suddenly found myself surrounded by a dozen armed agents, one of them pointing a gun at my face, shouting obscenities.

I was shackled and, after a few weeks, transferred to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility in Folkston, Georgia, far away from my family, my community and my home, in what I believe to be retaliation for my protected speech on Palestine, upholding due process rights and refusing to betray my community.  

The government claimed that my advocacy, social media activity and commentary were an indication I "engaged in terrorist activity." In reality, I was simply protesting the mistreatment of political prisoners and speaking against the genocide in Gaza. More than 20 members of Congress have since called for my release, raising serious concerns about the government’s reliance on my political and religious expression.

I have lived in the United States for over 25 years as a contributing, law-abiding member of my community. As an airline safety specialist and first responder, I was part of the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) team that supported the grieving families of the 67 people who died in Washington, DC, when a regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided over the Potomac River in January 2025.

Now, the same government I showed up for is the one holding me in a cage in rural Georgia.  

I want to make America better. ICE is tearing it apart

My connection to this country runs deep. 

My great-grandfather and great-uncle........

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