Burton Man Facing Deportation After 50 Years in U.S., Family Pleads for Help

Imagine going to make a quick coffee run and never returning to your family. A woman from Burton is begging the community for help after her husband was taken and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Taken by ICE During Coffee Run

According to Christina Shamma, her husband, Nael, was taken by ICE agents Thursday morning after he went to purchase coffee. WJRT reports that Shamma claims her husband has lived in the United States for more than 50 years and has been compliant with all reporting requirements.

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“He went to go purchase coffee with me in the morning, and on his way home, they swarmed him, took him out of the car, and took him into custody,” she told local media. “He was ordered to report once a year. He just reported in May, and they told him everything was fine.”

Longtime Resident Faces Deportation Fears

Clearly, things weren’t fine. Shamma says she has faced obstacles trying to get answers and fears her husband could be deported back to the country of his birth. While Nael was born in Israel, he is Palestinian — a situation that puts him in a very difficult and potentially dangerous position.

“Immigration won’t give me any information,” she said. “The only thing I know is that they housed him in Baldwin, Michigan, which is three hours north. His country won’t accept him. He was born in Israel. He’s Palestinian.”

Family Launches Petition for Support

Sara Haddad, the niece of Nael and Christina Shamma, is also asking for help from the community. Her support efforts include starting a petition to gather signatures and raise awareness in hopes of securing Nael’s release.