In 2020, Trump’s anti-immigrant policies targeted Anwar Alomaisi, who immigrated to New York from Yemen in 1998. Mr. Alomaisi went in for a routine check-in at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office in New York City, where he was suddenly detained. He was denied an opportunity to meet with an attorney and seek legal protection available to him in the U.S. before being forcibly put on a plane and deported to war-torn Yemen, despite the fact that the U.S. State Department declared that there is no place in Yemen immune to violence and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated Yemeni citizens for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). 

Under international human rights law, the principle of non-refoulement guarantees that no one should be returned to a country where they would face torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other irreparable harm. Because of his outspoken activism against the war in Yemen, Mr. Alomaisi’s life is at risk in Yemen. Abundantly aware of this, Mr. Alomaisi pleaded for protection while on U.S. soil, which he was entitled to under asylum law and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Despite his pleas, he was denied due process, violating national statutes and international policies.

Mr. Alomaisi lived in New York for nearly two decades, establishing strong roots and becoming one of the community’s most cherished residents. To many, he was the embodiment of the American dream, a hardworking and community-oriented individual exhibiting resilience, drive, and an incredible compassion for others. In addition to his full time work, Mr. Alomaisi volunteered for the Red Cross, the National Association of Mental Illness, The City of Peekskill, a local Fire and Police Department, the Chamber of Commerce, Audubon, and the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. As a renowned photographer, his talent has been showcased in magazines, galleries, newspapers, and to thousands of followers on his social media profiles. He is often associated with his stunning photographs of the American Eagle, his favorite bird. Mr. Alomaisi has continuously given back to the community in extraordinary ways. Public officials, nature enthusiasts, artists, activists, and residents who know and love him want to see him return to New York, his home for his entire adult life.

While still residing in the U.S., Mr. Alomaisi was well known for his political and human rights activism against the war in Yemen and groups like the Iran-backed Houthi militia and the Saudi and UAE-led coalition. Despite the fact that asylum seekers are legally entitled to an interview to demonstrate their credible fear of returning to their country Mr. Alomaisi was denied this right and was forcibly removed to Yemen. Now, Mr. Alomaisi is currently hiding in Yemen, fearing this activism will turn him into a target at any given moment, jeopardizing his life. His case is currently pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals, awaiting the final adjudication of his Petition for Review.

We collectively call upon the Biden Administration to end Mr. Alomaisi's nightmare and return him back to his community and rightful home in the U.S. Ensuring his safety, security, and return to his beloved community in New York should be a top priority as both the moral and the legally just thing to do.

Please sign the petition, share with your friends, and join the #BringAnwarBack Facebook Group.