Michigan woman claims husband was wrongly detained and is being held by ICE

Nael Shamma is being held in a facility in Baldwin, Michigan

BURTON, Mich — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took 50-year-old Nael Shamma into custody earlier this month, leaving his wife and children searching for answers. The longtime Burton resident, who came to the United States legally as a child, is now being held in a federal detention facility in Baldwin, Michigan. His wife, Christina Shamma, says the arrest is both unjust and confusing, given her husband’s decades-long record of compliance with immigration authorities.

Shamma’s case is unusual: born in Jerusalem and raised in Chicago, he entered the country at age 7 with his parents, siblings, and extended family — all of whom had green cards. In his twenties, he was convicted of felony assault in Chicago and served prison time. Upon his release, immigration officials began deportation proceedings, but were unable to remove him from the country because no nation would accept him. Israel would not take him due to his Palestinian heritage, and Jordan declined because it did not recognize his citizenship.

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For more than two decades since, Shamma has remained in the U.S. under a deportation order, checking in with immigration officials as required. According to his wife, he has consistently followed the rules, obtained the proper work authorization when needed, paid taxes, and raised four children. “He’s done everything they’ve asked him to do,” Christina said. “He’s a husband, a father, a grandfather — and they just took him without telling us why.”

The arrest occurred as Shamma returned home from a Tim Hortons coffee run. Christina says an unmarked vehicle pulled him over and agents took him into custody. She was handed a piece of paper with a number on it but no warrant. ICE has not publicly commented on the case.

This is not the first time Shamma has been detained. In 2012, during President Barack Obama’s administration, ICE agents came to the family’s home at 3:30 a.m. and took him into custody. He was held for 93 days in Calhoun County while federal officials again attempted to deport him. At that time, Jordan refused entry, and ICE released him after determining there was no country to send him to. An ICE officer reportedly described Shamma as a “wonderful person” who had not committed any new crimes and contributed to society.

Shamma’s reporting requirements have varied depending on administration policies. Christina said the process was relatively routine during the Obama years, more frequent under former President Donald Trump, and returned to an annual schedule until now. She believes the current detention is part of a broader sweep targeting individuals with existing deportation orders, regardless of personal circumstances.

“He came here legally. He didn’t sneak across the border. He’s not hiding from anyone,” Christina said. “We believe in enforcing the law, but cases like his should be looked at individually. People can change.”

Christina emphasized the family’s opposition to illegal immigration, noting that they support deportations of those who entered the U.S. unlawfully and commit crimes. “But that’s not him. He’s lived here for over 40 years. He speaks better English than his native language. He’s worked in stores in Flint, supported his family, and paid his taxes.”

The Shamma family says they have reached out to lawmakers, including Rep. Debbie Dingell, but have not been able to get answers from ICE or the Department of Homeland Security. Christina plans to continue visiting her husband in Baldwin and hopes public attention will lead to his release.

“I just want them to take the time to look at his case, see the life he’s built here, and recognize he’s done everything right since he was a young man,” she said. “It’s not fair to treat him like a criminal when he’s done nothing wrong for more than 20 years.”

As of now, ICE has not indicated when, or if, Shamma might be released. His family remains in limbo, waiting for an explanation and holding on to hope that history will repeat itself — and he will once again be sent home, not out of the country.