Texas Man’s Honeymoon Turns into Immigration Nightmare After ICE Detains Wife in U.S. Virgin Islands

A newlywed honeymoon turned into a prolonged immigration ordeal when Ward Sakeik, a stateless Palestinian refugee and long-time U.S. resident, was detained by ICE in February 2025 during a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands—a U.S. territory.

Her husband, Taahir Shaikh of Arlington, Texas, returned home alone and has now spent over 120 days without his wife, as she remains in immigration detention awaiting resolution of her green card application.

“She’s considered stateless… born in a country that doesn’t give you birthright citizenship,” Shaikh explained.
“She was born in Saudi Arabia but wasn’t recognized as a Saudi national because she’s Palestinian.”

A Life Built in America

Sakeik first came to the U.S. at age 8 with her family on a visa. Their asylum request was denied, but due to her stateless status, the government could not deport her. Instead, she was placed under an order of supervision, requiring annual check-ins with immigration authorities.

Over the last 14 years, Sakeik has built a life in Texas—graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington and working as a wedding photographer. She has complied with immigration rules throughout that time, her husband stressed.

The couple chose the U.S. Virgin Islands for their honeymoon, believing it wouldn’t impact her immigration status, since it’s not considered foreign travel. But upon return, Sakeik was flagged by Customs and Border Protection and detained by ICE, despite having a pending green card application.

ICE’s Response and Legal Hurdles

ICE confirmed the arrest but maintained that it was not a targeted operation. In a statement, the agency said:

“She chose to leave the country and was then flagged by CBP trying to re-enter the U.S. The facts are she is in our country illegally… She overstayed her visa and has had a final order by an immigration judge for over a decade.”

According to ICE, Sakeik has had a final deportation order since 2011, and her appeal was dismissed in 2014, meaning she has exhausted all legal options. The agency said her detention aligns with President Trump and Secretary Noem’s policies on visa integrity and border enforcement.

An Ongoing Battle for Freedom

Currently, Sakeik is held at Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, after spending months in McAllen. Her green card application has stalled, and despite ICE guidelines suggesting stateless detainees may be eligible for release after 90 days, Sakeik has now spent over 120 days in custody.

The couple continues to endure the hardship through weekly video calls and brief visits.

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“She constantly says, ‘When I get through this phase of my life, what am I not able to endure after this?’” Shaikh said.

Their legal team is working tirelessly to fight her removal and resume their lives as newlyweds.