Maher Awad, a Palestinian man from the village of Ramoun in the occupied West Bank, recounted his traumatic experience of being covertly deported from the United States. Having lived in the U.S. for nearly ten years while awaiting a green card, he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and subsequently deported on a private plane arranged by a businessman with close ties to former President Donald Trump. Awad described the deportation process as humiliating, revealing that he was shackled hands and feet for three continuous days during the journey, only to be freed upon arrival in his home village near Ramallah.

Awad detailed how the deportation involved the collaboration of American and Israeli authorities, as he was first flown to Tel Aviv and then transferred to Israeli police before ultimately arriving in his village. His experience raises significant human rights concerns, particularly regarding the treatment of Palestinian individuals facing deportation, and reflects broader issues surrounding immigration practices and policies enforced by the U.S. government. Despite having a prospective legal status in the U.S., Awad's case illustrates the precarious position of immigrants, particularly those from conflict regions, who face severe repercussions in their pursuit of safety and a stable future.

The implications of Awad's story extend beyond his personal ordeal, hinting at the systematic issues of how Palestinians are treated in the face of international laws and their rights within foreign jurisdictions. His narrative sheds light on the complexities of U.S.-Israel relations, particularly in regard to the treatment of Palestinian residents and the power dynamics at play, emphasizing the need for a reevaluation of both U.S. immigration policies and the deportation processes that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.