Fact Check: "Sakeik's asylum case was denied over a decade ago."
What We Know
Ward Sakeik has lived in the United States for 14 years, having entered the country with her family at the age of 8 on a tourist visa. They subsequently applied for asylum, but according to her husband, Taahir Shaikh, Sakeik's asylum case was denied more than a decade ago. Following the denial, Sakeik and her family were issued deportation orders; however, they were allowed to remain in the U.S. under an "order of supervision," which required regular check-ins with immigration authorities and provided work authorization (ABC News, Newsweek).
Analysis
The claim that Sakeik's asylum case was denied over a decade ago is supported by multiple credible sources. Both ABC News and Newsweek report that her family sought asylum upon entering the U.S. and that their request was ultimately denied. This denial led to the issuance of deportation orders, which were not acted upon due to Sakeik's stateless status—she lacks citizenship in any country (ABC News, Newsweek).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they are established news organizations that adhere to journalistic standards. They provide detailed accounts of Sakeik's situation, including quotes from her husband and her attorney, which adds to the credibility of the claims made. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also acknowledged that Sakeik has had a final order from an immigration judge for over a decade, reinforcing the assertion that her asylum case was denied (ABC News).
Conclusion
The claim that "Sakeik's asylum case was denied over a decade ago" is True. The evidence presented from credible news sources confirms that her family applied for asylum upon their arrival in the U.S., that this application was denied, and that they have been living under an order of supervision since then.
