IABA Celebrates the Release of Iranian Asylum Seeker After Prolonged Detention
The Iranian American Bar Association celebrates the release of Melika Olya after nearly three years in ICE detention. We commend the Center for Constitutional Rights and all advocacy partners whose work helped secure this outcome through the litigation of Ms. Olya’s habeas petition.
Ms. Olya was detained shortly after entering the United States after fleeing physical violence and death threats for protesting mandatory hijab laws. Her prolonged detention, despite her credible fear of persecution and lack of any clear path to removal, underscores persistent systemic failures within the U.S. immigration detention system. As stated in our earlier announcement, her case raised significant concerns regarding due process, the use of extended civil detention, and the treatment of vulnerable asylum seekers.
Ms. Olya was held in ICE detention for more than two years, 19 months of which occurred after an immigration judge issued a removal order. Federal law sets a 90 day mandatory detention period after a removal order, after which individuals must be released if their deportation is not reasonably foreseeable.
IABA continues to call for meaningful reforms to ensure that asylum seekers are not subjected to unnecessary or indefinite detention. We remain committed to advancing policies that protect due process, human dignity, and the fair and humane application of immigration law.
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1See INA § 241(a)(6), 8 C.F.R. § 1241.14(f).
This statement reflects the position of IABA as an organization and does not represent the personal views of any individual member or chapter, unless specifically endorsed.