08/18/2026
It is with profound sadness and deep concern that U.S. Africa Institute announces the deportation of our community member, Ms. Mayeni Sylla, despite weekss of advocacy and repeated humanitarian appeals on her behalf since she was detained by ICE.
Ms. Sylla is a 46-year-old mother of four U.S. citizen children, ages 21, 18, 16, and 12. Her deportation has left her children without their mother and has caused immeasurable emotional hardship for the entire family.
From the moment Ms. Sylla was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Africa Institute mobilized every resource within our capacity to support her and her family. Our staff, board and volunteers regularly visited her at the immigration detention facility, advocated directly with ICE officials, and worked tirelessly to connect her with experienced pro bono immigration attorneys. We also submitted repeated humanitarian appeals to the local ICE Field Office, the detention facility management, and the Department of Homeland Security, urging her release based on her family circumstances and serious medical conditions.
While in immigration detention, Ms. Sylla suffered from high blood pressure, iron deficiency, and a seizure disorder. We repeatedly emphasized that her continued detention posed significant risks to her health and well-being and that separating a mother from her four American children was contrary to basic humanitarian principles.
Despite these efforts, ICE proceeded with her deportation.
Even more troubling, Ms. Sylla, originally from Guinea-Conakry, was deported to Ghana, a country where she has no family, no support system, and no prior ties. She now faces the uncertainty of rebuilding her life in a place that is entirely unfamiliar while remaining separated from her children in the United States.
This outcome is heartbreaking—not only for Ms. Sylla and her family but also for our broader immigrant community. It is a painful reminder of the devastating human consequences that immigration enforcement policies can have on families, especially U.S. citizen children who bear the emotional and psychological burden of losing a parent.
Although this chapter has ended in tragedy, U.S. Africa Institute remains steadfast in its mission. We will continue advocating for immigrant families, connecting community members with legal resources, educating individuals about their rights, and working alongside partners to pursue humane and just immigration policies.
We are grateful to our pro bono attorneys, advocates, community organizations, faith leaders, elected officials, and volunteers who stood with Ms. Sylla throughout this difficult journey. While we could not prevent her deportation, your compassion and commitment demonstrated the strength and resilience of our community.
We ask our supporters to keep Ms. Sylla and her four children in their thoughts and prayers as they navigate this painful separation. U.S. Africa Institute remains committed to ensuring that no family has to face these challenges alone.
