Muslim Photojournalist Detained by ICE Speaks Out, Citing Islamophobia and 'Attacking My Faith'
A Muslim photojournalist, martial arts teacher, and first responder detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has spoken out about his experience, citing Islamophobia and the government's "attack" on his faith. Ya'akub Vijandre, 38, was picked up by ICE in October after posting on social media that was deemed threatening to national security. He has since been denied bail and is awaiting a decision on his habeas corpus petition.
Vijandre, who holds Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, was detained at gunpoint outside his home in Arlington, Texas, due to the posts. His legal team claims that the government's characterization of his speech as terrorism is unconstitutional and that he is being targeted due to his Muslim faith.
The photojournalist reported being subjected to abuse by guards at the Folkston detention center in Georgia, including being yelled at when they didn't understand English and told to "piss on yourself" during a visit. Vijandre expressed concern about the safety of his family and friends, saying that the government's actions are an attack on his faith.
Vijandre's case highlights the Trump administration's intensifying approach to characterizing threats to national security, with many Daca recipients caught up in its mass deportation plans. His ordeal began when 10 cars pulled up outside his home and detained him at gunpoint, due to social media posts that were deemed threatening.
The government alleges that Vijandre's posts, including ones about Islam and a controversial quote from a magazine linked to the Islamic State, demonstrate his endorsement of terroristic activity. However, his legal team claims that these posts are constitutionally protected speech and that the government is using them to target Vijandre due to his Muslim faith.
Vijandre has been reporting on rallies and community events dealing with Palestinians and Israel for several decades and has nearly 9,000 followers on Instagram. His case has sparked concerns about Islamophobia and the government's treatment of Muslims and other minority groups.
In a recent motion, Vijande's legal team asserted that his freedom is critical but that far more is at stake – if his social media posts or photojournalism make him a terrorist, the executive branch's power to detain individuals within the United States based on speech will know no limits.
A Muslim photojournalist, martial arts teacher, and first responder detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has spoken out about his experience, citing Islamophobia and the government's "attack" on his faith. Ya'akub Vijandre, 38, was picked up by ICE in October after posting on social media that was deemed threatening to national security. He has since been denied bail and is awaiting a decision on his habeas corpus petition.
Vijandre, who holds Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, was detained at gunpoint outside his home in Arlington, Texas, due to the posts. His legal team claims that the government's characterization of his speech as terrorism is unconstitutional and that he is being targeted due to his Muslim faith.
The photojournalist reported being subjected to abuse by guards at the Folkston detention center in Georgia, including being yelled at when they didn't understand English and told to "piss on yourself" during a visit. Vijandre expressed concern about the safety of his family and friends, saying that the government's actions are an attack on his faith.
Vijandre's case highlights the Trump administration's intensifying approach to characterizing threats to national security, with many Daca recipients caught up in its mass deportation plans. His ordeal began when 10 cars pulled up outside his home and detained him at gunpoint, due to social media posts that were deemed threatening.
The government alleges that Vijandre's posts, including ones about Islam and a controversial quote from a magazine linked to the Islamic State, demonstrate his endorsement of terroristic activity. However, his legal team claims that these posts are constitutionally protected speech and that the government is using them to target Vijandre due to his Muslim faith.
Vijandre has been reporting on rallies and community events dealing with Palestinians and Israel for several decades and has nearly 9,000 followers on Instagram. His case has sparked concerns about Islamophobia and the government's treatment of Muslims and other minority groups.
In a recent motion, Vijande's legal team asserted that his freedom is critical but that far more is at stake – if his social media posts or photojournalism make him a terrorist, the executive branch's power to detain individuals within the United States based on speech will know no limits.
... Detaining someone at gunpoint just because of their social media posts is insane! It's like, we're living in a movie or something 
. The fact that he was yelled at by guards who didn't understand English and told to do stuff that would humiliate him is just horrific 
. And the government is saying this guy is a threat to national security? Please, how can they even say that with such a clear lack of evidence? 
It's like they're trying to silence him because he's Muslim. That's not freedom, that's oppression 
. We need to stand up for people like Ya'akub and make sure our government is treating everyone equally, no matter what their background or faith is 
.
He's just trying to report on events and express his opinions as a journalist and a Muslim, but ICE is piling on the Islamophobia 
. And now he's being subjected to abuse by guards and being threatened with deportation 
. It's like the government's trying to silence him and intimidate other Muslims from speaking out 
. We need to stand up for this guy and his freedom of speech! 
! ICE is just picking on someone cuz they dont like their faith its not right theyre basically saying that if you have an opinion about somethin you can get detained and its a threat to national security thats kinda extreme i mean we all have our own opinions and we're allowed to express them but ICE is takin it too far they should focus on real threats instead of just chillin on some tweets 
. I think it highlights how our words can be easily misinterpreted and used against us 
.
.
. We need to promote understanding, empathy, and open-mindedness 
. And most importantly, we need to be mindful of our own words and actions and how they might impact others 
.
He was detained at gunpoint outside his home and now he's being subjected to abuse at a detention center because of some posts that were misinterpreted by the government. I mean, come on! 
It's not like he's trying to start an ISIS cell or anything (although, seriously, who reads those kinds of magazines? 
Newsflash: Ya'akub is a Muslim, but that doesn't mean he's got some kind of secret bomb just waiting to go off. He's a journalist and a teacher, not some kind of radical extremist. Get over it already! 
his whole life is 2 do with the government now & it's just not right 
. I mean, come on, people make mistakes online or say something they don't even think through, that doesn't mean you get detained and potentially deported 
. It's all just a big mess if you ask me