Image: Estes Kefauver Federal Building, Nashville. Image Credit: Google Earth & Canva.
Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that two Egyptian refugees detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Nashville were denied due process, ordering their immediate release despite ICE’s assertions the men are considered illegal aliens.
In separate cases, both the Egyptian men filed a writ of habeas corpus claiming they had never received an individualized bond hearing, which is technically a violation of due process which under the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ jurisdiction guarantees the right to an individualized hearing for anyone detained by law enforcement, including migrants.
An ICE spokesperson confirmed that the agency had complied with the court orders, but that the men are still considered illegal aliens, saying, “All illegal aliens receive due process. To be clear: a pending application or work authorization does NOT confer legal status in the United States. This administration will not ignore the rule of law. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App.”
One of the released Egyptian men appears to be a Christian asylum seeker who fled his home country and sought haven in the U.S. due to heavy persecution by Islamic groups.
The man claims to have been physically beaten for his Christian faith and left Egypt in August of 2023 after receiving death threats from those attempting to force his conversion to Islam.
The man was granted parole into the U.S. in Nov. 2023 after an asylum officer with Citizenship and Immigration Services determined there was “reasonable possibility” of religious persecution should he be forced to return to Egypt. He reportedly lived in Nashville for three years and complied with conditions of his status, including not committing any criminal offenses.
Then on September 18 of this year, the man was detained by the government and held for roughly 17 days, being told he would be deported back to Egypt. Exactly why he was taken into custody has not been revealed.
According to court documents, the man filed a habeas corpus petition stating he would face “the near certainty of physical assault and/or death if he is sent back to Egypt” as he still refuses to renounce his Christian faith and convert to Islam.
As a result of the petition, on Oct. 5, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger ordered his release for two reasons, finding that the government failed to formally terminate the man’s previous parole before re-detaining him and did not provide him with a bond hearing.
ICE was ordered to release the man by 1 p.m. the following day from custody in the Western District of Tennessee, and the government was barred from re-detaining or transferring the man out of state without providing the individualized bond hearing.
Sources:
WATE.
WKRN.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
