73 days in ICE detention: an Ohio hospital chaplain speaks out

What this episode covers

Across the country, many communities are seeing an increased presence of federal immigration agents. Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City have seen aggressive and sometimes violent tactics from ICE officers trying to apprehend people from the street and from their homes.  In Episode 2, you’ll meet Ayman Soliman, a former Cincinnati Children’s Hospital chaplain. He was detained by ICE for 73 days, and now shares his experience.   Soliman has been in the U.S. since 2014 fleeing persecution from the Egyptian government, where Ayman was detained and tortured for his work as a journalist. In 2018 he was granted asylum in the U.S.  However, his asylum was revoked in June and he was asked to meet with ICE officials on July 9. At the check-in, Ayman was detained by ICE and sent to Butler County Jail in Hamilton, Ohio.  Although the Trump administration contends that ICE is focused on detaining and deporting hardened criminals, Ayman disagrees.  “I don’t think these are the worst of the worst. This is just a statement that they made to convince the American public that these people deserve to be deported and to cover their racist reasons behind the deportation.”  With increased ICE raids, many U.S. citizens also have been swept up and detained. You’ll hear from Washington, D.C., Bureau reporter Ariana Figueroa, who has reported about this development. Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching out for. Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Special thank you Marty Schladen from the Ohio Capital Journal. Click here for the full transcript.  Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]. Subscribe to Stories From the States on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube. Photo: Ayman Soliman, the former Muslim chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital whom federal authorities are trying to deport on what his lawyers are saying is a trumped-up basis. (Photo courtesy of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance.)