7/9/25 Reposted from cincinnati.com
Former Cincinnati Children’s Hospital chaplain Ayman Soliman, an Egyptian immigrant, was detained by ICE after his asylum status was revoked. Supporters describe Soliman as a valuable member of the hospital community, providing multilingual support to families and colleagues. Colleagues and former patients’ families expressed concern for Soliman’s safety if deported back to Egypt, citing fears of persecution and torture.
Federal immigration officials detained a former Cincinnati Children’s hospital chaplain on July 9, about seven months after revoking his asylum status.
Friends and supporters of Imam Ayman Soliman said officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took him into custody after a scheduled meeting with ICE in Blue Ash.
Soliman came to the United States from Egypt about a decade ago, according to federal court records, and received asylum status in June 2018. His supporters, including local clergy, politicians and representatives from Ignite Peace, said he was fleeing persecution in Egypt and feared his life would be in danger if ICE sent him home.
At a press conference in the afternoon on July 9, those supporters said ICE officials rescinded Soliman’s asylum in December 2024 and detained him after meeting with him and his lawyers earlier in the day. They said the meeting included FBI agents and lasted three hours.
“We are shocked as a community, who is already vulnerable, who already feels targeted,” said Tala Ali, chair of the Clifton Mosque and the Islamic Association of Cincinnati. “To have one of our leaders and our elders in our community be detained in such fashion is very alarming.”
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