ICE detains Hopkins public health researcher as agency expands airport arrests

[The latest: Hopkins researcher detained by ICE transferred to rural Louisiana]

A Johns Hopkins University public health researcher and former Fulbright scholar was detained this week by immigration agents while boarding a domestic flight as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement efforts at airports.

In an email Thursday night, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that agents with its Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency arrested Fatima Ameaka on July 28 at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Originally from Cameroon, she entered the country in 2023 on a visa that has since expired, according to the department, and will remain in ICE detention while awaiting an immigration court hearing.

Hopkins is “deeply concerned” about the detention of Ameaka, a senior analyst for the Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Outbreak Response Innovation, university spokesperson Doug Donovan wrote in a statement.

“The university understands the fear and concern this instills in members of our community,” Donovan wrote. “Dr. Ameaka was traveling in a personal capacity, and though we cannot comment on the specifics of her situation, we want to assure our community that the university is actively working to provide support for Dr. Ameaka, including ensuring she has access to legal representation.”

A GoFundMe organized by someone who said they were Ameaka’s colleague at the Bloomberg School raised money for her legal defense.

The online fundraiser describes Ameaka as “a brilliant scientist who is deeply committed to public health and advancing the work that keeps our communities safe.” It raised more than $40,000 in roughly 24 hours and has now stopped accepting donations. Its organizer did not respond to a request for comment.

A government website tracking immigrants detained by ICE indicated Thursday morning that Ameaka was in ICE custody, but it did not list where she was being held.

ICE has been working with the Transportation Security Administration since December to arrest immigrants with outstanding deportation orders at airports, according to The New York Times, and has expanded that cooperation to target those with expired visas.

It’s the latest tactic in an ever-shifting immigration enforcement campaign. Since President Donald Trump retook office last year, ICE agents have increased targeted community arrests, traffic stops and detentions of people outside immigration courtrooms.

Remaining in the United States after a visa expires is generally considered unlawful and can subject someone to deportation. However, there are exceptions. A person may be considered lawfully present if they have applied to renew their visa or to adjust to another immigration status while their visa was still valid and are awaiting a decision on that application.

The Department of State, which issues visas for foreign students, workers and travelers, has not responded to emailed questions.

Ameaka began studying for a master’s degree in public health in 2023 as a Fulbright scholar, according to her LinkedIn page. She’s affiliated with the university’s environmental health and engineering department and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, according to her faculty page on the university’s website.

Her interests include “epidemic preparedness” and “outbreak response,” according to her faculty profile, which states she “focuses on building more resilient and effective outbreak response systems through the implementation of evidence-based, performance improvement practices.”

She’s also the founder of a peer education organization, BodyTalk, which aims to educate young women and girls about self-esteem, health and body positivity.