Fatou Traore, a beloved member of the Iowa City community, was unjustly detained by ICE agents on Thursday morning while on her way to work at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), where she has been a dedicated employee for years. Fatou is not only a valuable colleague but also a devoted mother of four. Despite having legal immigration status in the United States and no criminal record, she is facing deportation to Sierra Leone within days. This unforeseen and distressing situation not only jeopardizes her safety but is also tearing her family apart.

Fatou Traore has been a pillar in our community, contributing to its well-being and strength. Her work at UIHC has touched countless lives, demonstrating her commitment to improving the health and well-being of others. She has paid taxes, abided by the law, and raised her children to be contributing members of society. It is incomprehensible and unjust that she now faces deportation, which threatens to separate her from her family and community.

We need to compel ICE and the relevant authorities to not only halt the deportation proceedings but also to ensure Fatou's immediate and safe release so she can return to her children and community. Her life and the lives of her family members hang in the balance, a reality that is deeply personal to all who know her.

We are calling on the powers that be—the Department of Homeland Security, local representatives, and community leaders, and UIHC—to intervene and correct this grievous mistake. Fatou deserves to live without fear of wrongful deportation and to continue her life amongst her loved ones in Iowa City.

Please join us in demanding justice for Fatou Traore. Together, we can make a difference and reunite Fatou with her family. Sign this petition and stand up for what's right.