No one is ever truly safe’: ICE is detaining Islamic religious leaders with ‘wild leaps of association’ over charity work

Worshippers at the Clifton Mosque in Cincinnati, Ohio, are in shock after their imam, Egyptian-born Ayman Soliman, was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Soliman, who was granted asylum in 2018, had his legal status revoked just weeks before his arrest, ending a protection he had held for more than seven years. His detention has caused outrage, fear, and confusion in the community, with many people questioning whether the process was fair or transparent.

According to The Guardian, Soliman’s lawyers say that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) claims he gave “material support” to a “Tier III” terrorist group, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood, because of his work with Al-Gameya al-Shareya, a well-known charity in Egypt. “Tier III” refers to groups that are not officially labeled as terrorist organizations by the U.S. Department of State but can still be treated as such by an asylum officer in individual cases.

Julia Healy, one of Soliman’s attorneys, calls the government’s argument “illogical and incorrect,” saying USCIS made “wild leaps of association” by tying Soliman’s involvement with a respected charity to supposed support for the Muslim Brotherhood. It is important to note that neither the Muslim Brotherhood nor Al-Gameya al-Shareya are officially listed as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government.

ICE is making reasons to deport an Islamic leader

Soliman, who previously worked as a chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, came to the U.S. in 2014 after working as an independent journalist during Egypt’s turbulent years following the 2011 uprising. He was one of nearly 15,000 Egyptians granted asylum in the U.S. after the 2013 military coup. He has repeatedly stated that his life would be in danger if he were sent back to Egypt.

He was notified last December that his asylum status had been canceled, and his legal team believes this was retaliation for a lawsuit he filed against the government. The lawsuit sought details about a security alert that appeared during a background check for a job in Oregon years ago.

It’s not uncommon for ICE to find small reasons to detain others. However, this feels targeted, much like when ICE uses traffic tickets to deport people.

Tala Ali, the chair of the Clifton mosque, said, “People in the community are saying that if [ICE] can come for our leaders, our scholars, and our elders, then we are nothing. They’re scared, they’re angry. They’re also broken-hearted; they’re praying for him.”

Soliman’s arrest has sparked widespread criticism and support. The Greater Cincinnati Board of Rabbis has publicly stood by him, and hundreds have protested his detention. On July 18, 2025, more than a dozen people were arrested during a protest march across the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge in support of Soliman.

Soliman is currently being held at the Butler County Jail. He is set to appear by video before an immigration judge on July 22 for his case, and a bond hearing is scheduled for July 23 to decide if he can be released while his legal situation is resolved. A federal judge issued a Temporary Restraining Order on July 16, blocking any possible transfer out of Ohio until at least his bond hearing. The cancellation of asylum status is extremely rare, leading his lawyers to argue that this is a deliberate attack on him, creating a dangerous situation where “no one is ever truly safe” under current policies.