Iowa City mother deported before judge could rule on stay motion

Iowa City mother deported before judge could rule on stay motion

Fatou Traore deported to Sierra Leone, son calls for her safe return

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) - An Iowa City woman arrested by I.C.E. in September has been deported to Sierra Leone before a judge could rule on a stay motion. Additionally, she was also denied a Fear interview, which is used to determine in a person fleeing their home country has a possibility of facing persecution.

The development comes after a plea from Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks to request her release. Her opponent in the first congressional district race, Democrat Christina Bohannan, also demanded for Traore’s release.

Fatou Traore was arrested on September 24. The following week, hundreds of people gathered at First United Methodist Church to demand her release.

Rep. Miller-Meeks penned a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin where she requested a stay of deportation.

Additionally, local Lutheran, Catholic and Methodist Bishops also requested for Traore to be released.

Traore is an Ivory Coast national who was granted withholding of removal in 2011.

Immigrant advocate group Escucha Mi Voz Iowa is mobilizing to help bring Traore back to her four children.

Her son, Esoumaila Diallo, issued a statement following her deportation.

He shared, “My mother asked for a chance to have her case heard. They deported her before a judge ruled and ignored her request for a fear interview. We need our elected officials to act now to bring her back so she can have that chance and be home with her children.”

A legal team in Sierra Leone, New York City and Iowa City are working to provide assistance to her Traore and her family.

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