A researcher from Johns Hopkins University, originally from Cameroon, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport earlier this week, the university confirmed.
According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, ICE agents arrested Fatima Ameaka, a Cameroonian national, on Tuesday. The spokesperson stated that Ameaka had overstayed her visa, which expired on June 13, 2024. She is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Documents obtained by ABC News indicate that Ameaka held a work authorization permit valid until 2029 and had a pending asylum case. Johns Hopkins University identified Ameaka as an employee at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, holding a doctoral degree in pharmacy, and described her as a "respected member of our community."
"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," a Johns Hopkins spokesperson said.
Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, where Ameaka works, said she arrived at the university as a Fulbright Scholar two years ago. Her research focused on improving responses to infectious disease outbreaks, such as measles. Inglesby described her as "an amazing person, she is really smart. She's committed and she is funny," adding that she is a "beloved colleague at our center."
Inglesby also stated that Ameaka's family and lawyers have been unable to reach her. Her attorney confirmed she is being held at the Alexandria Staging Facility in Louisiana. A GoFundMe page has been established to support her legal defense.
Ameaka's arrest follows recent reports by ABC News detailing federal immigration authorities' intensified efforts to apprehend individuals at airports for alleged visa overstays.