{"id":24441,"date":"2026-08-01T19:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T14:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=24441"},"modified":"2026-08-01T19:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T14:01:12","slug":"johns-hopkins-researcher-released-after-being-detained-by-ice-at-airport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=24441","title":{"rendered":"Johns Hopkins researcher released after being detained by ICE at airport"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" data-article-body=\"true\" data-body-type=\"bodyblocks\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A Johns Hopkins University researcher has been released after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at Baltimore Washington International Airport earlier this week, her attorney told ABC News.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, ICE agents arrested Fatima Ameaka, a Cameroonian national, at the airport on Tuesday. The spokesperson said Ameaka overstayed a visa that expired on June 13, 2024.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;In violation of our nation&#8217;s laws, she overstayed her visa. She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings,&#8221; the DHS spokesperson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health - PHOTO: Fatima Ameaka, seen in this photo provided by Johns Hopkins University, is a researcher at the Maryland university.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/709807242019050499e3982c66388aef92812bfebb4e5d71da9d67e91da0ba04\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fus.abcnews.go.com%2Fe0402e058a8c53a525498d3458863931\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><default:path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/default:svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health &#8211; PHOTO: Fatima Ameaka, seen in this photo provided by Johns Hopkins University, is a researcher at the Maryland university.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">According to documents obtained by ABC News, Ameaka had a work authorization permit until 2029 and a pending asylum case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Earlier this week, the university said it was &#8220;deeply concerned&#8221; about her detention.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Johns Hopkins said Ameaka, who has a doctoral degree in pharmacy, is an employee at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and is &#8220;a respected member of our community.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The university understands the fear and concern this instills in members of our community. Dr. Ameaka was traveling in a personal capacity, and though we cannot comment on the specifics of her situation, we want to assure our community that the university is actively working to provide support for Dr. Ameaka, including ensuring she has access to legal representation,&#8221; a Johns Hopkins spokesperson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Stephanie Scarbrough\/AP - PHOTO: Travel Delays\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/aa0d9ed10c0ea158471b77d08e229fa66c7b56e6fbb29a419ca8ff75b63ee665\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w960;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fus.abcnews.go.com%2F13ad190e0dc8dd2dab428bcaf8e17ab5\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><default:path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/default:svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<div style=\"max-height:none;overflow:visible\"><span class=\"[&amp;_p]:inline\"><\/p>\n<p>Stephanie Scarbrough\/AP &#8211; PHOTO: Travel Delays<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a data-ylk=\"slk:Federal immigration authorities targeting airports for arrests;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/federal-immigration-authorities-targeting-airports-arrests\/story?id=135170980\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Federal immigration authorities targeting airports for arrests<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ameaka&#8217;s arrest comes days after ABC News obtained a memo detailing federal immigration authorities&#8217; new efforts to ramp up <a data-ylk=\"slk:arrests at airports;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/federal-immigration-authorities-targeting-airports-arrests\/story?id=135170980\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">arrests at airports<\/a> of people who have allegedly overstayed their visas. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Dr. Tom Inglesby, the director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where Ameaka works, said she attended the university as a Fulbright Scholar and began working with the center two years ago, focusing on researching how to improve responses to infections disease outbreaks such as measles.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;She is an amazing person, she is really smart. She&#8217;s committed and she is funny,&#8221; Dr. Inglesby said in an interview.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a data-ylk=\"slk:Thousands of unaccompanied migrant children could lose legal representation this week;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;yLinkElementType&quot;:&quot;article_link&quot;}\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/thousands-unaccompanied-migrant-children-lose-legal-representation-week\/story?id=135239547\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Thousands of unaccompanied migrant children could lose legal representation this week<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;She&#8217;s a beloved colleague at our center,&#8221; he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Inglesby said her family and lawyers have been unable to reach her.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Ameaka is currently being held at the Alexandria Staging Facility in Louisiana, according to her attorney.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with her legal defense.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Johns Hopkins University researcher has been released after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at Baltimore Washington International Airport earlier this week, her attorney told ABC News.\u00a0 According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, ICE agents arrested Fatima Ameaka, a Cameroonian national, at the airport on Tuesday. The spokesperson said Ameaka&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/lo\/mysterio\/api\/be77244a8509b4c002d3abc9062039872401acdd1334876f3264afaf2e02d293\/lightyear_networkapi\/resizefill_w1200;quality_80;format_webp\/https:%2F%2Fmedia.zenfs.com%2Fen%2Fus.abcnews.go.com%2Fe0402e058a8c53a525498d3458863931","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-trending-viral-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}