Sadat I.* fled Ghana in 2015 after a homophobic vigilante group threatened him, beat his uncle and burned his house down – all because of his sexuality. After two years in immigration detention, US authorities are seeking to forcibly return him to Ghana where his life is in danger.

Sadat was identified as gay by the vigilante group in Ghana after they beat and interrogated his partner, and posted a video of the beating on Facebook. The video has been viewed over 53,000 times, exposing Sadat publicly as a gay man.

Homosexuality is still a criminal offence in Ghana, and police consistently fail to protect the LGBTQI community from violence. Despite clear evidence that Sadat would be at risk of violence and imprisonment in Ghana, US authorities have denied his parole and are seeking to forcibly return him.

Since arriving at the US-Mexico border in January 2016, Sadat has been held in immigration detention, which should only be used as a last resort. He has been on hunger strike twice in protest of the poor conditions he is detained in, and his lawyers say immigration authorities have retaliated against him for his protests.

Speak up before it’s too late. Join our call on US authorities to stop deportation proceedings against Sadat.

*For partial anonymity and protection.

Thank you!

UPDATE 18/07/18: Good news! Sadat has won his motion to reopen his asylum case in America, and his lawyers will seek to have him released on parole in the meantime. Amnesty will continue to monitor his case.

Thank you to the 9,000 people who took action — this action is now closed.

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Mr. Daniel Bible, ICE Field Office Director
Mr. Thomas Homan, (Acting) ICE Director

Dear Mr Bible and Mr Homan,

Sadat I. (case file A# 208-920-376) has been held in immigration detention since requesting asylum in January 2016. He is now under threat of deportation.

Sadat, a gay man, fled homophobic attacks from a criminal group in Ghana. Homosexuality remains a criminal offence in Ghana, and the police consistently fail to prosecute and punish those who attack the LGBT community. Sadat would continue to face persecution, imprisonment, and threats to his life if returned to there.

I call on you to immediately halt any deportation proceedings against Sadat.

Sadat must be released on parole pending the resolution of his asylum claim, and under no circumstances be deported back to Ghana.

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