US ICE detains Nigerian-born USF professor and Bay Area nurse Ann Lawani

News

By Linda Ikeji
11 November 2026, 5:17 pm

Family members, colleagues and a California congressman are calling for the discharge of Dr Ann Lawani, a University of San Francisco nursing professor who was detained by US immigration authorities in September and transferred to Louisiana.

Lawani, 39, is a Nigerian nationwide who has lived and labored within the United States for 21 years and holds a legitimate work allow, based on NBC Bay Area. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers took her from her house in Lodi, California, in shackles about eight weeks in the past. Colleagues mentioned she was initially held in Stockton, then moved to El Paso, Texas, earlier than being transferred to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, the place she stays detained.

US Representative Josh Harder, a California Democrat, mentioned Lawani had been granted “withholding of removal” as a result of she confronted persecution in Nigeria. In an October 20 letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Harder cited her lack of a legal report, her longstanding compliance with immigration necessities and her ties to the group. He requested ICE to launch her below an order of supervision and prepare her speedy return to California.

Harder mentioned Lawani’s location was lacking from ICE’s on-line detainee locator, making it tough for her household and lawyer to seek out her. KQED reported that the omission got here below a coverage affecting folks with closing elimination orders.

“ICE has also reportedly pursued her removal to an undisclosed third country without providing her or her attorney with the relevant documentation,” Harder wrote. “These circumstances raise serious concerns about due process, transparency, and the justification for her continued detention.”

Harder requested the division to reveal the place it deliberate to ship Lawani, present the supporting journey paperwork and clarify why she remained in custody. The Department of Homeland Security didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Lawani oversees about 230 nursing college students within the University of San Francisco’s grasp’s programme and works weekends within the cardiovascular stroke unit at John Muir Health. She specialises in palliative and hospice care and cared for sufferers in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. She additionally helps take care of her 83-year-old father, who’s at present in hospital, based on the college.

Eileen Fry-Bowers, dean of the college’s School of Nursing and Health Professions, mentioned Lawani’s absence had disrupted pupil mentoring, curriculum work required for accreditation and partnerships serving susceptible communities. “I’m appalled that an individual like Dr. Lawani is in this circumstance. She’s one of the finest nurses that I know,” Fry-Bowers mentioned.

University President Salvador Aceves instructed the campus group on Tuesday, November 10, that Lawani and her household had initially needed to maintain her detention non-public however now needed folks to find out about it. “My family and I want to see my sister returned home safely and as soon as possible,” her brother, Samuel Lawani, mentioned.

The New York Times additionally featured Lawani’s case in a report on November 10 inspecting how adjustments to deportation procedures can go away hundreds of detainees out of ICE’s public locator system and pace up their elimination.