Palestinian Woman Recounts Year of Horrors in ICE Detention

Palestinian Woman Recounts Year of Horrors in ICE Detention

A Palestinian woman named Laqaq Kurdia has shared her harrowing experience of being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for over a year. Detained in March 2024 following pro-Palestinian protests near Columbia University, Kurdia was held in Texas without ever being charged with a crime. She was finally released on March 16th, ending a prolonged period of confinement that she describes as “horrific” and deeply damaging to her physical and mental health.

Conditions in Detention

Kurdia’s account paints a grim picture of life inside the ICE detention center. She detailed a severe lack of adequate medical care, a critical issue that directly impacted her. “Medical care is horrible,” Kurdia stated, explaining that the facility lacked sufficient medical staff, even for basic needs. She recounted suffering her first-ever seizure while in detention.

A Traumatic Seizure and Hospitalization

The seizure left Kurdia severely weakened and terrified. She woke up in a medical unit, disoriented and scared. When she expressed feeling dizzy and unwell, she was taken to a hospital. However, her treatment there was far from comforting. For three days, Kurdia was shackled to a hospital bed, even when needing to use the bathroom or shower. She described the restraints not as handcuffs, but as heavy chains that caused her pain.

“I felt like an animal,” Kurdia said, describing her treatment. “Even animals have the right to be taken to see the vet for example, but I was just like thrown there.”

She pleaded with guards and a lieutenant to remove the chains, citing her pain and weakness, but her requests were denied. One guard’s chilling response was simply, “Because I said so.” Kurdia found herself feeling relieved to return to the detention center, as her hospital stay felt like torture.

Wider Injustices Witnessed

Beyond her personal suffering, Kurdia witnessed significant injustices affecting others within the detention system. She spoke of elderly individuals who had lived in America for most of their lives being detained for minor or no reasons, often arrested during routine check-ins. Many of these individuals expressed a deep longing to be with their families before they died.

The detention center also housed pregnant women and young people. Kurdia described seeing at least four pregnant women sleeping on thin mattresses with no special care or adequate nutrition. The food, which she and others called “dog’s food,” made their conditions even more difficult. She also recounted the arrest of a 16-year-old girl who was taken from her classroom in front of her classmates and teacher.

Impact on Health and Family Ties

The year in detention has had a profound and lasting impact on Kurdia’s health. “My physical, it’s destroyed,” she stated, explaining that she now requires heavy anti-seizure medication for at least two years. This ongoing health issue significantly affects her mental well-being, creating a cycle of anxiety and distress.

The separation from her family also took a heavy toll. Because Kurdia was detained in Texas and her family lived in New Jersey, visits were nearly impossible. Her elderly and sick mother could not travel the long distance. Even if family members had visited, they would have been separated by glass, unable to hug or hold her hand, making the prospect too painful to pursue.

Access to legal counsel was also challenging. While lawyer visitations were somewhat easier, they were frequently canceled without explanation. Even scheduled Zoom meetings with her legal team were sometimes abruptly cut short.

Government Response

Hours before Kurdia’s release, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement. The DHS maintained that the facts of her case had not changed, asserting that Kurdia was in the country illegally after violating the terms of her visa.

Looking Ahead

Kurdia’s release marks the end of a traumatic year, but her fight for justice and well-being continues. Her story sheds light on the harsh realities faced by many in ICE detention and raises critical questions about the treatment of immigrants and the conditions within these facilities. As Kurdia begins to heal and rebuild her life, attention will likely remain focused on the broader implications of immigration detention policies and the experiences of those caught within them.

Source: Palestinian protester shares HORRIFIC details from year in ICE custody: “I was chained” (YouTube)