Sun Jul 06 09:03:11 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Stateless Texas Woman Details “Dehumanizing” ICE Detention After Honeymoon**

**MIAMI, FL** – Ward Sakeik, a 22-year-old stateless woman residing in Texas, has spoken out about her harrowing experience in ICE detention following her return from her honeymoon. Sakeik, who was born in Saudi Arabia but lacks citizenship in any country, was detained at Miami International Airport in February after vacationing in the U.S. Virgin Islands with her husband, a U.S. citizen. She was released on July 3rd after 140 days in custody.

At a press conference, Sakeik described her ordeal as “dehumanizing,” likening her treatment to that of cattle. She recounted being shackled and transported between three different detention centers, where she claims she faced harsh conditions, including lack of food and water, unsanitary restrooms, and infestations.

“I lost five months of my life because I was criminalized for being stateless,” Sakeik stated. “I didn’t choose to be stateless. I was just stateless.”

Sakeik, who has lived in the United States since the age of eight, has been complying with ICE requirements for years and has built a life for herself in Dallas-Fort Worth, including graduating from the University of Texas, Arlington, running a successful wedding photography business, and recently marrying her husband, Taahir Shaikh.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, Sakeik was flagged by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) while trying to re-enter the continental US. Officials claim she overstayed her visa and had a removal order for years. However, her lawyer and husband says she was allowed to remain in the US under an order of supervision which required her to regularly check in with federal immigration authorities and granted her work authorization.

Sakeik’s statelessness stems from Saudi Arabia’s policy of not granting citizenship to children of foreigners. After her family’s asylum application was denied, she was issued a deportation order over a decade ago.

Sakeik now plans to advocate for those who remain in ICE detention. “The women who come here come here for a better life, but they’re criminalized for that. They are dehumanized and stripped away from their rights.”

She plans to shed light on the plight of immigrants seeking a better life and expose the conditions within detention centers.

Read More