Johns Hopkins Researcher Released After ICE Detention Raises Immigration Concerns
Fatima Ameaka, a public health researcher at Johns Hopkins University, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport while preparing to board a domestic flight. Ameaka, a Cameroonian national, entered the U.S. in June 2023 with authorization to stay until June 2024. However, ICE accused her of overstaying her visa. Despite this, documents indicate she has a pending asylum case and a work authorization permit valid through 2029. Ameaka, who holds a Master of Public Health degree and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, focuses her research on improving public health responses to infectious disease outbreaks. Her detention, which involved a transfer to a facility in Louisiana, has sparked concern among her colleagues and the university, which is working to ensure she receives legal representation. 
