Tears of relief as Egyptian immigrant and Cincinnati chaplain released from detention
Ayman Soliman, a Cincinnati hospital chaplain and former Egyptian imam, was freed after weeks in immigration detention as authorities terminated his removal proceedings and reinstated his asylum status.
An Egyptian immigrant who has worked as a hospital chaplain in Cincinnati was released from detention Friday after weeks in immigration custody. Ayman Soliman, who came to the United States in 2014, was detained in July during a routine check-in with immigration officials.
Soliman previously served as an imam in Egypt for 14 years before fleeing to the United States in 2014. He is a board member of the Initiative on Islam and Medicine, a group that collaborates with health care institutions to engage Muslim communities on health and spiritual matters. He was granted asylum in 2018 based on past persecution for his work as a journalist during Egypt's Arab Spring uprising, during which he says he was jailed and tortured for reporting on the political conflict. He later worked as a prison chaplain in Oregon, but lost that job after the FBI placed an unexplained flag on his background profile. In a case still pending, he has sued to obtain more information about the flag and to clear his name.
Supporters gathered Friday evening as Soliman spoke to those who had waited for weeks for word of his release. Dressed in a suit, he thanked the community for advocacy and recounted how fellow detainees celebrated when authorities informed them of his release. The brief press conference was paused for afternoon prayers as attendees held signs reading “Finally Home,” “Home Is Here,” and “Immigrants Welcome Here.” “I can't find words to describe this moment. This is beyond a dream,” Soliman said, adding that he would always be indebted to those who stood with him. Nazly Mamedova, one of Soliman's attorneys, described the moment of release as transformative: “All cases against him have been closed,” she said, noting that the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter Friday stating the removal proceedings were terminated and asylum was reinstated.
In a separate statement, Rep. Greg Landsman, a Democratic member of Congress who represents parts of Cincinnati, said he was glad Soliman was released and on his way home to the Cincinnati community. Community organizations that advocate for Muslim Americans and immigrant rights circulated videos and updates about the release, underscoring the broad support Soliman received.
The Department of Homeland Security declined to discuss details of individual immigration cases or adjudication decisions while responding to requests for comment.
Soliman’s asylum status has faced renewed scrutiny in recent years. His lawyers have argued that his 2018 asylum win was based on his journalism during Egypt's Arab Spring and the persecution that followed. In late 2024, an asylum officer began proceedings to terminate Soliman’s asylum status, an action the government said was necessary to reevaluate his eligibility. The officer cited Soliman’s board membership in Al-Jameya al Shareya as evidence of material support for terrorism due to links with the Muslim Brotherhood. The United States has not designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, though former President Donald Trump considered it during his first term. One of Soliman’s lawyers has argued that Al-Jameya al Shareya is a nongovernmental organization that provides medical and charitable services, and that the government’s reversal constitutes retaliation for a lawsuit filed to obtain information about the board membership.
Lawyers for Soliman stressed that the government had knowledge of the board membership when asylum was granted, and they contend that the removal-proceeding termination is not intended as punitive action but as part of a broader review of his case. The Department of Homeland Security has not provided further details on the decision.
The release has drawn reaction from Cincinnati faith and immigrant-rights communities, highlighting the personal and communal impact of detention and the ongoing questions surrounding asylum determinations in cases involving political dissent and professional affiliations abroad. Supporters said Soliman’s case has underscored the real-world consequences of immigration policy on individuals who have spent years building lives in the United States while facing legal questions tied to complex international affiliations.
As Soliman returns to Cincinnati, supporters say they will continue to monitor his case and advocate for transparency in adjudications, while authorities continue to review other asylum cases and background checks that may affect individuals with long-standing asylum protections. The incident has intensified conversations about how background checks and NGO affiliations are interpreted in the context of asylum and national-security concerns, and it has rekindled attention to the balance between safeguarding national security and protecting individuals who have sought refuge from persecution.