Woodbury asylum seeker with rare skin disease details six‑day ICE detention and ongoing fear
A Woodbury man and Libyan asylum seeker with a rare genetic skin disorder says he was held six days by ICE at the Whipple Federal Building — released on a $1,500 bond — and alleges he was denied soft food needed for a life‑threatening esophageal condition and was cuffed to a hospital bed in ways that worsened painful blisters. He says agents told him he was not in the U.S. legally despite a 12‑year‑pending asylum case and no criminal record; now back home and physically recovering, he and his attorney say he remains afraid to go out and fear ICE could detain him again before next month’s asylum hearing.
📌 Key Facts
- A Woodbury man originally from Libya has a rare genetic skin disorder and a life‑threatening esophageal condition.
- He was detained by ICE at the Whipple Federal Building for six days and was released on a $1,500 bond.
- While in detention he says he was denied soft/appropriate food for his esophageal condition, was cuffed to a hospital bed, and that the restraints and conditions worsened his skin blisters.
- ICE agents reportedly told him he was not in the U.S. legally despite a 12‑year‑pending asylum case and no criminal record.
- He and his attorney say he remains fearful ICE could pick him up again before his next asylum hearing, and the attorney commented on the likelihood of future ICE contact.
- He has been released and is back home recovering physically but says he is still 'scared to go out' in public.
📊 Relevant Data
The Libyan immigrant population in the US is small, with 13,681 Americans claiming Libyan ancestry according to the 2020 Census.
Libyan Americans - Wikipedia — Wikipedia
In Woodbury, Minnesota, the foreign-born population percentage was 14.6% between 2018 and 2022, with the overall population growing by 7.3% from April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2024.
Woodbury city, Minnesota - U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts — U.S. Census Bureau
43% of detained immigrants have at least one chronic health condition, with 16% having multiple chronic conditions.
The health-related experiences of detained immigrants with and ... — ScienceDirect
Causal factors for migration from Libya include ongoing armed conflict, human rights abuses such as arbitrary detentions, torture, and exploitation by criminal networks, as well as a fragmented healthcare system inadequate for chronic diseases.
How conflict in Libya facilitated transnational expansion of migrant ... — Chatham House
In fiscal year 2025, ICE arrests were broken down by country of citizenship, but specific per capita rates by nationality are not directly reported, with high numbers from countries like Mexico and Guatemala.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms the Woodbury man has been released from ICE custody and is now back home, physically recovering but still afraid to go out in public.
- Adds more detail on how his rare genetic skin condition and life‑threatening esophageal disease were handled in detention (reports of being denied appropriate food and cuffed in ways that worsened blisters).
- Includes fresh quotes from the man about being 'scared to go out' in Woodbury and from his attorney about the likelihood of future ICE contact before his next asylum hearing.
- Confirms Duglof was held six days at the Whipple Federal Building and released Thursday on a $1,500 bond.
- Provides detailed first-person description of conditions in detention, including being denied soft food despite a life-threatening esophageal condition and being cuffed to a hospital bed, which worsened his skin blisters.
- Adds Duglof’s statement that agents told him he was not in the U.S. legally despite a 12‑year‑pending asylum case and no criminal record, and that he remains fearful ICE could pick him up again before next month’s asylum hearing.