The tranquility of an immigration interview turned into a nightmare for the family Shama. Maggie Shama realize that during his immigration appointment On October 9, she was told that everything seemed fine and that, barring very different responses from her husband, her case would be approved.
But shortly after, ICE agents They entered the building and arrested Mohamed Shamaalthough Maggie He insists: “They approved us, I don’t understand what is happening.”
How Mohamed Shama’s arrest occurred
The sequence, according to the story of Maggie and what is documented by NC Newslinestarted when Maggie was interviewed first. The officer stated that his part of the procedure was correct. Shortly after, she approached Mohamed to hold hands before he walked into his interview. There she told him: “We got this”.
But after leaving his interview, Maggie found out that ICE had entered the building and taken Mohamed in custody, without prior notice or immediate explanations. “I was shocked… I kept asking myself ‘but did they approve us?’”
After the arrest, Mohamed has been moved between several facilities: first to Cary Detention Centerthen to the county jail Alamanceand later to Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. The arrest has sparked significant community intervention, with friends and acquaintances raising funds for legal costs and family support.
Official positions regarding arrest
ICE was consulted to confirm the version of the Shama but sent the request to USCISwhich until now has not given a public response. In local media, it has been indicated that the authorities maintain that Mohamed was subject to a pre-existing immigration orderwhich allowed his arrest despite the recent interview.
There are no public confirmations yet that ICE either USCIS accept that the interview was a sign of formal approval. The agency has remained silent on the specific details of his case, while there is speculation that recent immigration processes do not protect against old orders in place.
Maggie and Mohamed’s life in the US
Mohamed Shama is originally from Egypt and has resided in Durham, North Carolinafor more than a decade. At that time, he worked in the chain AMC Theaterswhere he rose to become general manager, achieving national recognition in 2022 as “Manager of the Year”.
Maggiehis wife since 2017, suffers from spinal stenosis and depends in part on Mohamed’s support and care. For years they have fought together the immigration processpresenting the Green Card application based on marriagehoping to regularize their status. At the time of the arrest, his case was awaiting resolution following the interview.
What could come for the Shama
With a active prior deportation order and new latent risks, the future of Mohamed is uncertain. His wife and community believe he could be forced to self-deport to pursue his case from abroad, or be sent to Egypta complicated destination due to the few migratory routes available.
However, in the meantime, their defenders search get a stay motion (stay) to prevent the verbal interview decision from being overturned by the old order.
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