Friday October 3, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (HOL) — Somali activist Omar Jamal said Friday he remains confident he will not be deported after being released this week from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, following a
month-long detention at the Freeborn County Jail in southern Minnesota.
Jamal, 52, appeared alongside Freeborn County Sheriff Ryan Shea at a joint press conference in Albert Lea, where he refuted social media claims alleging mistreatment of detainees at the Freeborn County Jail. He praised staff for their professionalism and described the facility as “a system at work.”
“What I have seen is people doing their job with professionalism in a humane way,” Jamal said. “We had access to medical care, lawyers, recreation, and religious practice.”
Jamal was
arrested on August 29 outside the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis over an immigration case dating back two decades. According to court records, a 2003 federal indictment accused him of failing to disclose a previous refugee claim in Canada when applying for asylum in the United States.
He was convicted of immigration fraud in Tennessee in 2005 and received probation. A U.S. immigration judge issued a final removal order in 2011, but Jamal successfully argued that deportation to Somalia would jeopardize his safety. Canada later declined to accept him, leading to his release under an order of supervision that required annual ICE check-ins.
His attorney, Nico Ratkowski, said the August arrest stemmed from the old case and not new allegations. Jamal was released on September 29 under a negotiated settlement agreement that remains under review.
Sheriff Ryan Shea said Jamal reached out to him after media outlets began contacting the jail about alleged poor conditions. Shea, who met Jamal for the first time Thursday, said detainees are treated with dignity.
“While we don’t offer a lavish living environment, we provide medical care, meals, and recreational activities,” Shea said.
Jamal described a daily routine that included reading in the library, playing soccer, and attending faith gatherings. He credited Jail Administrator Mike Stasko for fostering “ethical and compassionate leadership.”
ICE officials previously cited Jamal’s 2005 conviction and alleged additional charges including assault and fraud. Jamal denied those claims.
“I don’t know anything about two frauds or assault — that’s something we’re looking into,” he said.
Jamal said he complied with agents during his arrest, even when initially told he might be deported to Canada. “The law is working,” he added. “As of today, I’m back to work and continuing community engagement.”
A longtime and sometimes polarizing figure in Minnesota’s Somali diaspora, Jamal once led the Somali Justice Advocacy Center and was frequently quoted by local media on issues from police shootings to counterterrorism investigations. Some community members view him as a tireless advocate; others see him as divisive due to his past involvement in controversial stories, including a 2020 Project Veritas video from which he later distanced himself.