Family couldn't find ICE detainee Ann Lawani online as she moved between three sites

Dr. Ann Lawani, a 39-year-old nurse and university professor, has been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for nearly two months. Federal agents arrested her at her home in Lodi, California, on Sept. 16, and she was later sent to Louisiana, according to her attorney and colleagues ¹. Relatives, co-workers and elected officials are now calling for her release ¹.

Lawani teaches at the University of San Francisco, where she oversees a master's nursing program with about 230 students. She also works as a nurse at John Muir Health ¹². Her brother says she is also needed at home to care for their 83-year-old father ¹.

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What the government says

A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Newsweek that Lawani "received due process and was issued a final order of removal on August 6, 2013." The spokesperson said she "will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States" ¹.

DHS says Lawani, a Nigerian national, entered the country legally on a temporary visa on June 7, 2007. It says she stayed after her authorized stay ended on July 6, 2007 ¹.

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Her attorney, Natalia Vieira Santanna, tells a different part of the story. She said an immigration judge denied Lawani's asylum request in August 2013 but granted her "withholding of removal" to Nigeria. That status can bar deportation to a country where a person would likely face persecution. It does not give permanent residency or cancel the removal order. Santanna also said Lawani's work permit is valid through April 2029 ¹.

A detainee who could not be found

Lawani was first taken to Stockton, then moved to El Paso, Texas, and then to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, according to NBC Bay Area ¹. Her family said it could not find her in ICE's online detainee locator during those transfers. Her brother, Samuel Lawani, said the family learned she was in Louisiana only when she called him three days later ¹.

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The Associated Press reported that ICE removed thousands of detainees with final removal orders from the locator on Sept. 15, the day before her arrest. Three current and former ICE officials told the AP the change was not disclosed. Lawyers told the AP it could hinder last-minute legal challenges to deportation ¹.

Court and congressional pressure

Lawani's attorney filed a federal habeas corpus petition on Sept. 18. That is a court request asking a judge to review whether a detention is lawful ¹. On Sept. 29, a federal judge refused DHS's request to move the case to Louisiana. The judge found her attorney could not reasonably have known where she was held when the petition was filed ¹.

The judge also barred the government from removing Lawani while the case goes on. The judge ordered DHS to explain why she should not be released ¹.

Rep. Josh Harder, a Democrat whose district includes Lodi, wrote Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Oct. 20. He asked about her transfer, her absence from the locator and reports that ICE may try to send her to a third country ¹². On Nov. 10, his office said he had asked DHS to release her under an order of supervision. He also asked DHS to name any proposed country of removal and to give the legal basis for holding her ¹.

National Nurses United, the nation's largest union of registered nurses, said in a Nov. 12 statement that DHS "purposefully disappeared her." The union also warned she is at "grave risk of being deported to a third country where she has no ties" ¹. Those are the union's allegations. DHS has not answered them in the coverage reviewed here.

Why it matters

That matters because a detainee locator is often the only way a family or lawyer can find a loved one. If the tool goes dark while a person is being moved, a court filing can be delayed or sent to the wrong place. A judge has already found that happened in this case ¹.

Next, DHS must answer the court's order on why Lawani should not be released. Harder's request for her release and for details of any removal plan is still pending ¹.

The Record

1. Sep 15, 2026ICE removed thousands of detainees with final removal orders from its online locator, the AP reported ¹.
2. Sep 16, 2026Federal agents arrested Lawani at her home in Lodi, California ¹.
3. Sep 29, 2026A federal judge refused to move her case to Louisiana and barred her removal while it proceeds ¹.
4. Oct 20, 2026Rep. Josh Harder wrote DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin about her transfer and the locator ¹².

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<h2>Family couldn&#39;t find ICE detainee Ann Lawani online as she moved between three sites</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/family-couldn-t-find-ice-detainee-ann-lawani-online-as-she-moved-between-three-sites">The GOP Files</a> on Saturday, November 14, 2026.</em></p> <p>Dr. Ann Lawani, a 39-year-old nurse and university professor, has been in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for nearly two months. Federal agents arrested her at her home in Lodi, California, on Sept. 16, and she was later sent to Louisiana, according to her attorney and colleagues . Relatives, co-workers and elected officials are now calling for her release .</p> <p>Lawani teaches at the University of San Francisco, where she oversees a master&#39;s nursing program with about 230 students. She also works as a nurse at John Muir Health . Her brother says she is also needed at home to care for their 83-year-old father .</p> <h2>What the government says</h2> <p>A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told Newsweek that Lawani &quot;received due process and was issued a final order of removal on August 6, 2013.&quot; The spokesperson said she &quot;will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States&quot; .</p> <p>DHS says Lawani, a Nigerian national, entered the country legally on a temporary visa on June 7, 2007. It says she stayed after her authorized stay ended on July 6, 2007 .</p> <p>Her attorney, Natalia Vieira Santanna, tells a different part of the story. She said an immigration judge denied Lawani&#39;s asylum request in August 2013 but granted her &quot;withholding of removal&quot; to Nigeria. That status can bar deportation to a country where a person would likely face persecution. It does not give permanent residency or cancel the removal order. Santanna also said Lawani&#39;s work permit is valid through April 2029 .</p> <h2>A detainee who could not be found</h2> <p>Lawani was first taken to Stockton, then moved to El Paso, Texas, and then to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, according to NBC Bay Area . Her family said it could not find her in ICE&#39;s online detainee locator during those transfers. Her brother, Samuel Lawani, said the family learned she was in Louisiana only when she called him three days later .</p> <p>The Associated Press reported that ICE removed thousands of detainees with final removal orders from the locator on Sept. 15, the day before her arrest. Three current and former ICE officials told the AP the change was not disclosed. Lawyers told the AP it could hinder last-minute legal challenges to deportation .</p> <h2>Court and congressional pressure</h2> <p>Lawani&#39;s attorney filed a federal habeas corpus petition on Sept. 18. That is a court request asking a judge to review whether a detention is lawful . On Sept. 29, a federal judge refused DHS&#39;s request to move the case to Louisiana. The judge found her attorney could not reasonably have known where she was held when the petition was filed .</p> <p>The judge also barred the government from removing Lawani while the case goes on. The judge ordered DHS to explain why she should not be released .</p> <p>Rep. Josh Harder, a Democrat whose district includes Lodi, wrote Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin on Oct. 20. He asked about her transfer, her absence from the locator and reports that ICE may try to send her to a third country . On Nov. 10, his office said he had asked DHS to release her under an order of supervision. He also asked DHS to name any proposed country of removal and to give the legal basis for holding her .</p> <p>National Nurses United, the nation&#39;s largest union of registered nurses, said in a Nov. 12 statement that DHS &quot;purposefully disappeared her.&quot; The union also warned she is at &quot;grave risk of being deported to a third country where she has no ties&quot; . Those are the union&#39;s allegations. DHS has not answered them in the coverage reviewed here.</p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>That matters because a detainee locator is often the only way a family or lawyer can find a loved one. If the tool goes dark while a person is being moved, a court filing can be delayed or sent to the wrong place. A judge has already found that happened in this case .</p> <p>Next, DHS must answer the court&#39;s order on why Lawani should not be released. Harder&#39;s request for her release and for details of any removal plan is still pending .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/family-couldn-t-find-ice-detainee-ann-lawani-online-as-she-moved-between-three-sites">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/family-couldn-t-find-ice-detainee-ann-lawani-online-as-she-moved-between-three-sites.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Newsweek, “Dr. Ann Lawani Controversy Explained as Anger Grows Over ICE Arrest” (2026-11-14). newsweek.com/dr-ann-lawani-controversy-explained-as-anger-gr
2. KQED, “California Lawmaker Calls for Release of USF Nursing Professor Detained by ICE” (2026-11-10). kqed.org/news/12109044/california-lawmaker-calls-for-release

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