Help Mohamed Naser Reunite with His Family

Story

[UPDATE: We’ve been able to talk to Mohamed and he’s in good spirits. He has made friends, and was moved by all the support he’s received. He is now is waiting on his court date.] On the morning of Tuesday, July 15, a terrifying and deeply unjust situation unfolded for Mohamed Naser and his family in Greensboro, North Carolina. Around 9:00 AM, three unidentified men in jeans and casual shirts arrived at Mohamed’s home demanding to see him. Mohamed, a hardworking Libyan immigrant and father of five, was at work. One of the men threatened his wife, saying they would return with reinforcements. And they did. Nearly two hours later, they came back, this time wearing camouflage and vests labeled “POLICE,” but with no badges, no warrants, and no official identification. As Mohamed returned home for lunch, these men chased him into his own house. For over 90 minutes, they tried to force entry, with one of them even threatening Mohamed’s son with pepper spray. The family repeatedly asked for a warrant or proof of authority, but none was ever provided. Mohamed has never had a run-in with ICE or immigration courts. His only "record" consists of three dismissed traffic citations from 2016. He supports his family by maintaining equipment at local Wendy’s restaurants, under a valid work permit. He’s 50 years old, married, and raising five children, three of whom are U.S. citizens. Mohamed has called Greensboro home for the last 15 years. He loves this city deeply and is a proud, contributing member of the community. He has never wanted to leave, and he wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else. Greensboro is where he built his life, where he raised his family, and where he found belonging. His roots here run deep. Then, on Thursday morning, just two days after this frightening home invasion, Mohamed was picked up by ICE on his way to work. Despite having done everything by the book entering the U.S. on a valid visa, applying for asylum within the legal timeframe, and working legally he was detained without cause. What followed was surreal: an ICE agent interrogated him with a series of bizarre and irrelevant questions about Iran and the Iranian-American community. Mohamed is Libyan. He has no ties to Iran. Even after acknowledging that this was likely a mistake, the agents informed his attorney that Mohamed would not be released due to a "zero release" policy and daily detention quotas. This campaign is being launched to support Mohamed’s legal defense and help his family while he remains unjustly detained. His wife and children are traumatized, and his absence has left a massive emotional and financial burden on them. Mohamed is a kind, honest, hardworking man who deserves to be home with his family—not imprisoned due to a clerical error and a broken system. Please help us fight for Mohamed’s freedom. Every donation, no matter how small, brings him one step closer to home. Let’s show this family that their community stands with them.