ICE Detains Libyan Man with Rare Skin Condition in Minnesota, Leaving Him Without Access to Essential Care
A devastating turn of events has unfolded for Hani Duglof, a Libyan man who has been living in the United States for over a decade in search of medical treatment for his rare skin condition. Duglof, who suffers from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a condition that causes his skin to tear easily and makes eating soft foods a necessity, was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while seeking the specialized care he requires.
According to Duglof's account, on January 10th, two ICE vehicles pulled him over while driving in Wisconsin. With his brother Mohamad Duklef on the phone with him, expecting a routine traffic stop, the situation took an alarming turn. Instead of being released after a standard check-in, Duglof was taken into custody by ICE agents who informed him that he no longer had legal status.
Duglof and his brother have been navigating the complexities of the US asylum system for years, with Hani having spent over a decade studying, working, and participating in clinical trials to find suitable treatments for his condition. Despite this, on January 10th, ICE agents claimed that Duglof's status had changed, leaving him vulnerable to deportation.
The detention has left Duglof facing significant challenges, including access to the specialized food he needs to survive. The cramped conditions at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling, where Duglof was held, further exacerbated his condition, causing blisters and discomfort. Medical documents from M Health Fairview Southdale's emergency department reveal that despite initial concerns about providing suitable care, Duglof was ultimately released back to the facility.
Hani's lawyer has been working with his brother to secure his release on bond, pending a court case in February related to his asylum case. However, the ordeal highlights the vulnerability of immigrants like Hani who are detained and deported without adequate consideration for their medical needs or the complexities of their immigration status.
Duglof's story is part of a larger issue that has seen over 2,500 people detained by ICE since the start of Operation Metro Surge in early December. While the agency claims to be targeting individuals with a history of crime who are living in the country illegally, hundreds of others remain in detention without publicly disclosed information about their alleged offenses.
As Duglof prepares to face an uncertain future, his case serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater understanding and compassion in addressing the complex needs of immigrant populations.
A devastating turn of events has unfolded for Hani Duglof, a Libyan man who has been living in the United States for over a decade in search of medical treatment for his rare skin condition. Duglof, who suffers from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a condition that causes his skin to tear easily and makes eating soft foods a necessity, was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while seeking the specialized care he requires.
According to Duglof's account, on January 10th, two ICE vehicles pulled him over while driving in Wisconsin. With his brother Mohamad Duklef on the phone with him, expecting a routine traffic stop, the situation took an alarming turn. Instead of being released after a standard check-in, Duglof was taken into custody by ICE agents who informed him that he no longer had legal status.
Duglof and his brother have been navigating the complexities of the US asylum system for years, with Hani having spent over a decade studying, working, and participating in clinical trials to find suitable treatments for his condition. Despite this, on January 10th, ICE agents claimed that Duglof's status had changed, leaving him vulnerable to deportation.
The detention has left Duglof facing significant challenges, including access to the specialized food he needs to survive. The cramped conditions at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building in Fort Snelling, where Duglof was held, further exacerbated his condition, causing blisters and discomfort. Medical documents from M Health Fairview Southdale's emergency department reveal that despite initial concerns about providing suitable care, Duglof was ultimately released back to the facility.
Hani's lawyer has been working with his brother to secure his release on bond, pending a court case in February related to his asylum case. However, the ordeal highlights the vulnerability of immigrants like Hani who are detained and deported without adequate consideration for their medical needs or the complexities of their immigration status.
Duglof's story is part of a larger issue that has seen over 2,500 people detained by ICE since the start of Operation Metro Surge in early December. While the agency claims to be targeting individuals with a history of crime who are living in the country illegally, hundreds of others remain in detention without publicly disclosed information about their alleged offenses.
As Duglof prepares to face an uncertain future, his case serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater understanding and compassion in addressing the complex needs of immigrant populations.
this is just so wrong...ICE detaining someone with a rare skin condition that makes eating soft foods impossible? That's like holding someone with diabetes in a detention center without any access to insulin 
. Hani Duglof deserves better, and we need to demand more from our immigration system 
. We should be supporting people like him who are trying to live their lives here despite the challenges they face 
. It's not just about giving them a chance at a better life, it's about treating them with basic human dignity 
.
he's been living in the US for over a decade trying to get the treatment he needs for his super rare skin condition and now he's been detained by ICE?! 
it's like, what even is the point of having an immigration system if it's just gonna leave people vulnerable like this?
i mean, come on guys! can't you see that this guy is just trying to survive here? and what's with the cramped conditions at the detention center? that's literally torture for someone with EB 
let's hope he gets released on bond soon and can get back to his treatment. this is just another example of how messed up our immigration system is 
... like what's the point of even having a country if you can't take care of your own people? especially those with rare conditions that require super specialized care 
... it's just not right.ICE is supposed to be helping people not hurting them 
... and now this guy's gotta deal with deportation and cramped conditions that are making his condition worse 
this whole thing needs a lot more attention and some serious reforms 
...
... but also, I don't know if I totally blame them? Like, they're just doing their job, but on the other hand, it's super harsh to detain someone with a rare skin condition like that? Duglof has been living in the US for over 10 years and has done all the right things, studying and working hard... but I guess his status changed or something? 
.
. He deserves to have access to the care he needs without fear of being deported 
. The fact that there are over 2,500 people in detention without publicly disclosed information about their alleged offenses is alarming 
.
. How can we balance immigration laws with compassion and understanding? It's not just about Duglof's case, it's about the thousands of others who are going through similar struggles 
. This guy's got a super rare skin condition that makes eating a living nightmare and they just decided to lock him up without even considering how it would affect his health? Like, what kind of sick "law" says you can deport someone for not having proper papers while they're literally DYING on the inside 
he's been living in the US for over a decade with no proper papers, what did we expect? if he was so sick, maybe he should've gotten his act together and applied for asylum back in Libya lol. I'm not saying the detention conditions are ideal but come on, the guy's got Epidermolysis Bullosa, it's not like he can just walk out of there whenever he wants 
. Like, seriously? didn't they know he was sick?! 
It's time for our politicians to step up and pass some serious immigration reform, stat! 
and now he's stuck in this tiny cell without food that won't disintegrate when he tries to eat it 
. poor guy.
how can ICE just take away someone's rights like that? 
how are they supposed to get proper care in there?