My dear nephew Mohamed Sylla, was unjustly detained by ICE on October 30th.
On October 30th, my nephew Mohamed went in for a routine, voluntary ICE check-in in San Antonio, TX — something he has done before, always responsibly and on time. Instead of being checked in and released as usual, he was unexpectedly and unjustly detained. The next day, October 31st, he was transferred to a (for profit) detention facility, where he remains.
He is struggling in there — he is being held in extremely difficult conditions:
• There are about 200 people crowded into one room, • They have to sleep in narrow cots with insufficient blankets, making it hard to sleep. • They give them minimal food, forcing us to purchase extra food through an app, • People around him falling ill and experiencing distress, Mohamed himself has recently gotten sick due to the terrible conditions. • They are only allowed to go outside twice a week, leaving them confined indoors for days at a time.
Mohamed is currently in the process of seeking asylum in the United States. His immigration court date was scheduled for 2030 , which means he is legally allowed to remain at home, work, and live freely while he waits. He recently received his work permit and was doing everything required of him.
Mohamed has not committed any crimes. He is a sweet, gentle young man and talented musician who has already contributed so much to our community. Detaining him like a criminal is very unjust and has devastated our whole family. My heart is broken, it’s very sad.
We are doing everything possible to bring Mohamed home. His lawyer is filing a Habeas corpus petition with a federal court this week and we must be prepared for any other steps necessary to secure his release. All of this has been and is a complex and costly legal process. I am asking for help to cover attorney fees, legal costs, including bond, and help covering his expenses while he remains in detention.
How You Can Help:
Please help us get Mohamed released and bring him home.
• Please Donate what you can — any amount, big or small, truly makes a difference and is deeply appreciated.
• Share this GoFundMe with friends, family, and anyone who may be able to help.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing what you can to support Mohamed in this incredibly difficult situation. Your kindness means more than words can express. God bless you.