Dusty dorms, rusted bed frames: Bride’s honeymoon turns into months-long detention nightmare in the US

Ward Sakeik, a 22-year-old Palestinian woman born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Texas, was detained in the United States in February — just ten days after her wedding. She and her husband, Taahir Shaikh, had been returning from their honeymoon in the US Virgin Islands when she was stopped by federal immigration officials at the airport. Despite having lived in the country since the age of eight and regularly checking in with immigration authorities, she was arrested and transported to a detention centre.

Being stateless — not recognised as a citizen by any country — made her situation far more precarious. Although her family had been granted supervised stay in the US after their asylum application was denied, the sudden detention shocked them.

Why was she detained despite living in the US for years?

Sakeik’s family had originally entered the US on a tourist visa. Although they complied with all rules under their "order of supervision" — a legal arrangement allowing them to stay despite final deportation orders — she was flagged by immigration officials. The Department of Homeland Security claimed her re-entry raised concerns because she had travelled outside the US customs zone. However, the US Virgin Islands are a US territory, and no passport is required to travel there. 

Officials attempted to deport her twice — once even directing her towards Israel’s border during active conflict. A judge eventually stepped in, blocking her removal and criticising the handling of her case.

What were the conditions like during detention?

Sakeik’s account of her time in custody paints a grim picture. She was held in three different detention centres across states, transferred in harsh conditions, and subjected to unhygienic facilities. She described dusty dorms, rusted bed frames, and insect infestations. At one point, she broke her Ramadan fast beside a toilet during a transfer that lasted over 16 hours without food or water.

Her emotional account reveals the psychological and physical strain she endured. She also expressed concern for other women still inside, many of whom lacked legal support or access to media attention.

What led to her release?

Following public outcry and legal action, including a green card sponsorship application filed by her husband, she was released in July. Her attorneys, however, reject claims that her release was a routine outcome of paperwork. They argued it came only after intense legal pressure and public scrutiny exposed the system’s failures.

Ward Sakeik is now back in Texas and slowly rebuilding her life — resuming renovations on her new home with her husband. But she remains vocal about those left behind. Her story, she says, is not an isolated one but part of a wider problem in how stateless individuals are treated by the immigration system.

Sakeik’s case has triggered renewed attention on how the US handles stateless individuals and long-time residents with unresolved immigration status. Legal experts and activists warn that such detentions, even when they violate court orders, are becoming more common.