US Govt Tried to Dump Me: Stateless Woman Detained After Honeymoon
Ward Sakeik, a stateless Palestinian woman, recently recounted her harrowing experience of being detained by the US government after her honeymoon. Sakeik, who has been living in the US since she was eight years old, was detained in February and was eventually released after several weeks in custody.
The ordeal began when Sakeik and her husband, a US citizen, returned to the US from their honeymoon in Europe. Upon arrival, Sakeik was taken into custody by immigration officials, who claimed that she was not eligible to enter the country due to her stateless status.
Sakeik’s situation is complex. Born in the Gaza Strip, she holds no nationality due to the fact that her parents were refugees who were not granted citizenship by the Palestinian Authority. Despite living in the US for over 20 years, Sakeik has never been granted citizenship, and her legal status has always been precarious.
“I was treated like an animal, not a human being,” Sakeik said in an interview with News18. “I was moved around like cattle, from one place to another, without any explanation or any kind of respect for my dignity.”
During her detention, Sakeik was subjected to inhumane conditions, including a lack of food and proper medical care. She was handcuffed and treated like a criminal, despite being a law-abiding citizen.
“I was handcuffed, not because I was a threat to anyone, but because I was a stateless person,” Sakeik said. “It was like they were trying to punish me, to make me feel like I was nothing.”
Sakeik’s detention was not only a personal nightmare but also a logistical nightmare. As a stateless person, she has no country to turn to for help, and her husband was unable to provide her with the necessary support.
“I was in a situation where I was completely at the mercy of the US government,” Sakeik said. “I had no one to turn to, no one to advocate for me. I was alone, with no country to call my own.”
Sakeik’s case highlights the plight of stateless individuals around the world, who are often forced to live in limbo, without the protection of a government or the rights that come with citizenship. According to the United Nations, there are over 10 million stateless people worldwide, many of whom are refugees or asylum seekers who have been denied citizenship due to bureaucratic red tape or other factors.
Sakeik’s story also raises questions about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in the US. Despite the country’s reputation as a beacon of freedom and democracy, the US has a long history of detaining and deporting migrants and asylum seekers, often with little regard for their human rights.
In recent years, the US has implemented increasingly strict immigration policies, including the travel ban imposed by President Donald Trump in 2017. The ban, which targeted predominantly Muslim countries, was widely criticized as discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Sakeik’s case is a stark reminder of the need for the US government to reform its immigration policies and to treat migrants and asylum seekers with dignity and respect. As a stateless person, Sakeik is not eligible for citizenship, but she should be entitled to basic human rights, including the right to food, shelter, and medical care.
Sakeik’s ordeal is a testament to the resilience and determination of stateless individuals around the world. Despite being denied citizenship and subjected to inhumane conditions, Sakeik remains hopeful for a better future.
“I am grateful to be free, but I know that my journey is far from over,” Sakeik said. “I will continue to fight for my rights, for the rights of stateless people everywhere, and for a world where everyone has the chance to live with dignity and respect.”
