3 Bishops in Iowa Write to Government Officials to Release Mother of 4 from ICE Detention and Stop her Deportation

Three faith leaders from Iowa have united to urge federal officials to stop the deportation of Fatou Traore, an Iowa City mother of four who is currently held in an ICE detention center in Louisiana.

The faith leaders collectively representing over 231,000 Iowans include:

• Bishop Dennis Walsh (Catholic Diocese of Davenport)
• Bishop Amy Current (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
• Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai (United Methodist Church)

The Case and the Faith Leaders' Appeal

Fatou Traore, an Ivory Coast native, has lived peacefully in Iowa City for more than 20 years and has no criminal record. She was arrested by ICE on September 24, 2026, while on her way to work at a University of Iowa hospital. The federal government has scheduled her deportation to Sierra Leone—a country where she has never lived or visited, and where her supporters highlight significant human rights risks.

The bishops sent formal letters to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, alongside state representatives, pleading for her release. In their letters, they emphasized the humanitarian impact on her four children, with Bishop Current writing that "human dignity is God's gift, never something earned through citizenship", and Bishop Bigham-Tsai praying for a stay of deportation so she can return to her family.

Wider Political and Community Backing

Beyond the faith community, the push to prevent her deportation has gained traction among elected officials and grassroots organizers:
• Congressional Action: Republican U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks has actively advocated for Traore, contacting Secretary Mullin directly to request a stay of execution.
• Federal Review: Republican Senator Chuck Grassley pledged to have immigration experts in his office review Traore’s case to see if intervention is possible.
• Community Protests: Local advocacy organizations like Escucha Mi Voz and the Iowa City Catholic Worker have organized community rallies outside federal buildings to demand her immediate release.