Ghanaian Teacher Detained at Dulles Airport After Asylum Admission

Anabella Gyasi, a 38-year-old Ghanaian teacher, and her four-year-old son have returned to Ghana after spending over a week in detention at Washington Dulles International Airport. Their ordeal began when Gyasi, who arrived in the U.S. on a tourist visa, disclosed her fear of returning to Ghana due to persecution related to her son's disabilities during a customs interview. Gyasi had traveled to the U.S. for a medical evaluation for her son, who has physical abnormalities affecting his fingers. Despite having valid tourist visas until 2028, they were taken into custody by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers instead of boarding their connecting flight to Ohio. The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, which represented Gyasi, reported that they were denied adequate food and medical care during their detention. Gyasi's attorneys argued that her honesty about her fears led to her being categorized as an asylum seeker, which ultimately resulted in their detention. A federal judge ordered the end of their asylum attempt, leading to their return to Ghana. This case raises concerns about the treatment of asylum seekers and the implications of disclosing fears during immigration processes.