Woodbury asylum seeker with rare skin disease describes ICE detention after six-day hold
Woodbury asylum seeker Abdelatif Duglof, a Libyan immigrant with a rare genetic skin disorder, says he was detained by ICE for six days at the Whipple Federal Building before being released on a $1,500 bond. Duglof described being denied soft food despite a life‑threatening esophageal condition, being cuffed to a hospital bed which worsened his skin blisters, and told by agents he was not in the U.S. legally despite a 12‑year‑pending asylum case and no criminal record; he fears ICE could pick him up again before next month’s asylum hearing.
📌 Key Facts
- Duglof, a Libyan immigrant and asylum seeker with a rare genetic skin disorder, was detained by ICE.
- He was held for six days at the Whipple Federal Building.
- He was released Thursday on a $1,500 bond.
- Duglof provided a first-person account saying he was denied soft food despite a life-threatening esophageal condition and was cuffed to a hospital bed, which worsened his skin blisters.
- He says ICE agents told him he was not in the U.S. legally despite his asylum case being pending for 12 years and his having no criminal record.
- Duglof remains fearful ICE could pick him up again before next month’s asylum hearing.
📊 Relevant Data
The average processing time for asylum cases in the US can take up to 7 years due to backlogs, with some cases extending to 10 years or more.
What happens once asylum seekers arrive in the U.S.? | The IRC — International Rescue Committee
In 2025, deaths in ICE custody reached a 20-year high with 32 reported deaths, amid a record number of detentions.
2025 was ICE's deadliest year in two decades. Here are the 32 ... — The Guardian
Libyan asylum seekers in the US often flee due to ongoing armed conflict, insecurity, lawlessness, and human rights abuses including trafficking and exploitation by criminal networks and armed groups.
Libya: New evidence shows refugees and migrants trapped in ... — Amnesty International
Libya's healthcare system is fragmented and inconsistent, with significant challenges in providing care for chronic and rare diseases, driving migration for medical treatment.
Transforming healthcare in Libya – the need for clinical practice ... — PMC
In fiscal year 2025, ICE arrests included breakdowns by country of citizenship, with high numbers from countries like Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and others, but specific per capita rates by nationality are not directly reported.
Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, starting December 2025, targeted criminal illegal aliens but resulted in over 400 arrests, including non-criminals, causing community tensions and economic impacts.
ICE surge in Minnesota causes tensions to rise | MPR News — MPR News
As of 2025, 92% of the growth in ICE detention involved people without criminal convictions, with the detention population reaching over 68,000.
ICE Detention Surges as Minnesota Shooting, Enforcement Tactics ... — Davis Vanguard
US policies in 2025 included suspending immigrant visas from 75 countries, including Libya, over public charge concerns, potentially affecting asylum seekers.
U.S. to suspend immigrant visas from 75 countries over public ... — NPR
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- 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.