‘Your blood is on the hands of ICE’: Iraqi man dies weeks after being deported from US

‘His deportation was essentially a death sentence,’ says Michigan congressman

A Catholic man has died after being deported to Iraq by the US government, a congressman has said.

Jimmy Aldaoud had never previously visited Iraq, spoke no Arabic and had no family in the country, according to Andy Levin, a Michigan representative.

He was deported to the Middle Eastern nation in July 2019, after being sentenced for a drug possession charge.

“Jimmy was found dead today in Iraq,” Edward A. Bajoka, an immigration lawyer, said on Facebook.

“The likely cause of death was not being able to get his insulin. He is a diabetic.

“He was forcefully deported to Iraq a couple of months ago ... he knew no one there.”

Mr Aldaoud was born in Greece to Iraqi parents, according to The Detroit News.

The family came to the US as refugees when Mr Aldaoud was six months old.

Mr Bajoka said the Iraqi national had not become a naturalised US citizen "due to his criminal history which led to his deportation," without specifying further.

The 41-year-old can be seen pleading his case on camera in a video posted on Facebook by Mr Bajoka.

“I said I’ve never been [to Iraq], I’ve been in [the US] my whole life, since pretty much birth,” he said.

The Oakland resident claimed immigration agents ignored his pleas.

“[The immigration agents] refused to listen to me. They wouldn’t listen to me, they wouldn’t let me call my family. Nothing,” he said.

“They just said ‘you go to Iraq’ and ‘your best bet is to co-operate with us. That way we’re not going to chain you up and we’ll put you on a commercial flight.’

“I begged them, I said please, I’ve never seen that country. However, they forced me. I’m here now.”

The Independent has contacted US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.

In the Facebook video Mr Aldaoud said he was sleeping in the streets in Iraq.

He also said he was ill and vomiting.

“I’ve got nothing over here,” he said.

The video was filmed around two weeks after Mr Aldaoud was deported, according to Mr Bajoka.

A number of Iraqi nationals were detained in 2017 immigration raids in the US, according to The Detroit News.

Many have been deported for crimes which the government view as violating immigration laws.

Shanta Driver, a Michigan-based lawyer, said at least seven Iraqi nationals in Michigan had removed their GPS tethers in the last month, to evade immigration officials.

Andy Levin, who represents part of Oakland in Congress, said Mr Aldaoud should “have never been sent to Iraq”.

“It was clear that deporting Jimmy to a country where he had never been, had no identification, had no family, had no knowledge of geography or customs, did not speak the language and ultimately, had no access to medical care, would put his life in extreme danger,” he said.

“Jimmy died tragically ... of a diabetic crisis. His death could have and should have been prevented, as his deportation was essentially a death sentence.

“My Republican colleagues and I have repeatedly called on the Executive Branch to cease deportation of such vulnerable people. Now, someone has died. We cannot wait one more day for action.”

As a Chaldean Christian, Jimmy Aldaoud was part of a minority group which has experienced persecution in Iraq.

He also had schizophrenia, according to Mr Bajoka.

“He was a paranoid schizophrenic. His mental health was the primary reason for his legal issues that led to his deportation,” the lawyer said on Facebook.

“Rest In Peace Jimmy. Your blood is on the hands of ICE and this administration.”