ICE detention of Johns Hopkins researcher

On July 31 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained Fatima Ameaka, a Cameroonian public‑health researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, while she was boarding a domestic flight at Baltimore/Washington International Airport. ICE said she had overstayed a visa that expired in June 2024 and placed her in custody, transferring her to processing centers in Louisiana and other locations.

Three days later, on August 3 2026, Ameaka was released after roughly one day in ICE custody. Her attorney highlighted a valid Employment Authorization Document through 2029 and a pending asylum application, while DHS maintained the visa‑overstay claim. Johns Hopkins University, along with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, publicly criticized the arrest and pledged legal assistance. The episode sparked broader concerns about immigration enforcement targeting foreign scholars, though Ameaka’s immigration case remains unresolved.