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Hospital worker detained by ICE for 7 months released after federal judge's order

Jun 9, 2026·Location: Syracuse, NY

Country of origin: Guinea

Hospital worker detained by ICE for 7 months released after federal judge's order
Photo via spectrumlocalnews.com

Mohamed Fofana, a 22-year-old asylum seeker from Guinea employed at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, was detained by ICE on November 11, 2025, near his home. He was held for seven months in detention facilities in Batavia and La Salle County, Texas. In February 2026, his attorney reported losing contact with him for a month due to facility transfer confusion, and an immigration judge granted a 45-day continuance. An immigration judge ordered his deportation in May 2026, but a federal judge vacated that order and approved his habeas corpus petition in June 2026. Fofana was released and returned to Syracuse on June 7-9, 2026, to reunite with his family.

Timeline

Jun 9, 2026—Fofana released from detention and returns to Syracuse to reunite with family
Jun 8, 2026—Federal judge approves habeas corpus petition and orders immigration court to vacate deportation order
May 2026—Immigration judge orders Fofana's deportation
Feb 2026—Attorney unable to contact Fofana for one month due to facility transfer confusion; immigration judge grants 45-day continuance
Nov 11, 2025—Mohamed Fofana detained by ICE near his home in Syracuse
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