Egyptian family detained 323 days, re-arrested after court-ordered release, freed mid-deportation
Apr 27, 2026·Location: Denver, CO
Country of origin: Egypt

Hayam El Gamal and her five children, Egyptian citizens who entered the U.S. on B-1 visitor visas in 2022, were detained at Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas in June 2025 after overstaying their visas. The family was detained based on the alleged criminal actions of their estranged father, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who was later convicted of 101 charges including murder, though the family members were never charged with any crimes and stated they were estranged from Soliman and unaware of his plans. During nine months in detention, the family endured moldy and wormy food, inadequate medical care including failure to treat a 5-year-old's severe dental cavities, and religious freedom violations. Her 16-year-old son described the experience as "a nightmare" that made it difficult to return to normal life, writing that "nothing is normal anymore because you live in fear of going back to that place." An immigration judge granted the family bond in September 2025, but DHS appealed and obtained a stay. On April 24, 2026, a federal judge ordered their release; two days later, ICE re-arrested the family during a routine check-in at an ICE office in Denver and transported them to Denver International Airport for immediate deportation in violation of the federal court order. During transport and on a private jet, the family was subjected to verbal abuse, medical neglect, and physical restraint despite a medical emergency. Federal judges issued emergency orders blocking the removal and turning the plane around mid-air. The family was released on April 27 pending litigation on their asylum case, with electronic monitoring required as a condition of release.
Timeline
Sources
- El Gamal family in ICE custody again after release from 10-month detention
Newsweek·Apr 25, 2026·archived copy
- Texas mother of 4 released from ICE custody after more than a month in detention
- CBS News
- themirror.com
- meyka.com
- usnews.com
- ICE detained family less than two days after court ordered their release
internazionale.it·Apr 27, 2026·archived copy
1065thebuzz.com·Apr 26, 2026·archived copy
- criminalimmigrationlawyer.com
- ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com
- Family at Dilley ICE center details moldy food, medical neglect
Texas Tribune·Mar 11, 2026·archived copy
- ICE re-detains Egyptian family hours after court-ordered release, deportation halted
indiatoday.in·Apr 26, 2026·archived copy
- meyka.com
- More immigrants are being held in detention for over a year. NPR followed one family's ordeal.
nhpr.org·Apr 22, 2026·archived copy
- ICE frees El Gamal family after re-arresting mother, 5 children
Texas Tribune·Apr 26, 2026·archived copy
- ICE releases El Gamal family after re-arresting mother and 5 children, attorney says
foxsanantonio.com·Apr 25, 2026·archived copy
KSAT·Apr 26, 2026·archived copy
Yahoo News·Apr 26, 2026·archived copy
- Mother, 5 children released after Texas detention, ICE re-arrest
Houston Chronicle·Apr 26, 2026·archived copy
- CourtListener
- Federal judges order pause of Egyptian family’s deportation after ICE re-arrested
tpr.org·Apr 26, 2026·archived copy
- Plane carrying El Gamal family returning to Denver after judge halts deportation
San Antonio Express-News·Apr 25, 2026·archived copy
- Family’s 10-month detention by ICE ruled unconstitutional by judge
Houston Chronicle·Apr 20, 2026·archived copy
- Family held 10 months at Dilley marks longest ICE detention of kids under Trump
Houston Chronicle·Apr 15, 2026·archived copy
- May 5, 2026
Statement of El Gamal legal team re: abuse of family during illegal deportation flight
We can now share the details of the Trump administration's illegal attempt to deport the El Gamal… | Eric Lee
linkedin.com·May 5, 2026·archived copy
- truthout.org
- Inside Dilley: America’s Largest Immigration Detention Center
jouster.blog·Mar 12, 2026·archived copy
- Is Dilley, TX Tap Water Safe to Drink? 2026 Report
- All Eyes on Dilley: 'It's Worse Than Anybody Thinks'
texasmonthly.com·Jan 29, 2026·archived copy
- Dilley Immigration Processing Center
en.wikipedia.org·Dec 18, 2014·archived copy
- Judge orders release of family held at Dilley detention facility for nearly a year
- harianbasis.co
- statesmanjournal.com
- Texas detention center holding kids beyond court-ordered limit
Texas Tribune·Aug 12, 2026·archived copy
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