Former Cincinnati Children's chaplain, Ayman Soliman, has been released from detention and his asylum status reinstated after ICE officials detained him in July, reports WLWT. Soliman, who fled political persecution in Egypt in 2014 and was granted asylum in the U.S. in 2018, found himself behind bars at Butler County Jail for months following the revocation of his asylum status during a routine check-in. Upon his release, he expressed his deep gratitude for the community's unwavering support. "This is beyond a dream," Soliman said in a press conference captured by WLWT.
Congressman Greg Landsman also chimed in on the case, telling WLWT he had a "really wonderful conversation" with Soliman and was relieved he could return to the Cincinnati community and continue his chaplaincy work. While detained, Soliman spent approximately 70 days in jail, celebrating his release with communal prayers and a meal far from the jail food he had become accustomed to, according to ProPublica. His attorneys managed to demonstrate inconsistencies in the government's case, which initially accused him of being involved with a terrorist group, a charge Soliman firmly denied.
Details surrounding the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) decision to withdraw its case against Soliman revealed a series of government evidence discrepancies leading up to his release. "From the beginning, everything was flawed," Soliman's attorney Robert Ratliff told ProPublica. With Soliman's asylum status now reinstated, his application for a green card has also been revived. Soliman's case had caught the attention of legal scholars who saw it as a measure of the administration's power at counterterrorism and immigration's crossroads.
During his detention, Soliman received 760 letters from well-wishers, which were handed a broad smile and a plastic bag containing his belongings as he walked out of the jail, according to ProPublica. Nazly Mamedova, another of Soliman's attorneys, relayed the DHS's letter announcing the termination of his removal proceedings, affirming that "all cases against him have been closed," which was also detailed in The Seattle Times. This news came as a relief not only to Soliman but to the many who advocated for his release, revealing the power of collective community action.
As he finally stepped back into a life interrupted, Soliman looked forward to resuming his role in the community. "I will always be indebted to every one of you," he told his supporters, as reported by The Seattle Times, whose signs like "Finally Home," and "Immigrants Welcome Here" suggested a vision of America replete with refuge and belonging.
