The Maria Kari Law Firm and the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Houston) and today welcomed the release of Muhanad J. M. Alshrouf, a 22-year-old Palestinian man who has reportedly been confined for nine days in a secondary screening room at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)—despite entering the United States legally on a valid immigrant visa.

Houston Public Media reports:

“Muhanad J. M. Alshrouf was released from detention at approximately 5 p.m. Monday, according to Maria Kari, an attorney and executive director of the nonprofit Project TAHA who has been working with Alshrouf’s family since he arrived in Houston and was detained. He had obtained a U.S. immigrant visa before traveling to Houston on an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai on July 5, the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said in a Monday statement calling for Alshrouf’s release.”

SEE ALSO: Palestinian man released after immigration officials detained him at Houston airport for 9 days – Houston Chronicle

“We will continue to defend Mr. Alshrouf’s legal rights, and the rights of all those who face mistreatment in the current anti-immigrant atmosphere,” said Maria Kari, attorney and executive director of Project TAHA.

“We welcome the release of Muhanad J. M. Alshrouf, who should never have been detained in such an unjust manner,” said John T. Floyd, a board member of CAIR-Texas Houston and prominent civil rights attorney. “No immigrant – particularly one who went through a rigorous legal process – should be treated in such an inhumane way.”

BACKGROUNDER:

Alshrouf arrived in Houston on Saturday, July 5 at 4:40 p.m., on Emirates Airlines from Dubai, after completing a years-long immigration process and receiving full approval for a U.S. immigrant visa. He has no criminal record, has never been arrested, and successfully passed rigorous background checks by both U.S. and Israeli authorities. His sole purpose in coming to the United States is to reunite with his U.S. citizen father and siblings and build a future in the country he has dreamed of since childhood.

Since his arrival, Alshrouf has been detained in an airport secondary screening room without access to legal counsel, a change of clothes, proper food, or basic hygiene. Family members report that he remains in the same clothes he arrived in and has received little to no communication or explanation regarding his continued detention.

Earlier this month, CAIR’s Dallas Fort Worth chapter (CAIR-DFW) welcomed the release of Ward Sakeik, a Palestinian woman detained by ICE as she was returning from her honeymoon with her husband.

The shared mission of CAIR and CAIR-Texas is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. 

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.

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CONTACT: Rawan Harirah, Chair and President of CAIR-Houston, 713-254-2016, rharirah@cair.com; John T. Floyd, Board Member, CAIR Texas-Houston, 713-254-2016, jfloyd@cair.com; Maria A, Kari, Attorney and Executive Director Project TAHA, 205-862-8005, info@mariakari.org