A United States congressman, Josh Harder, has called for the immediate release of Nigerian-born nurse and university professor, Dr Ann Lawani, who has remained in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly two months despite court decisions reportedly shielding her from deportation to Nigeria.
Lawani, 39, who teaches at the University of San Francisco and works as a nurse, was arrested by immigration agents at her residence in Lodi, California, in September 2026.
Her continued detention has triggered concerns among lawmakers, colleagues and family members, who have questioned the legal basis for keeping her in custody after more than two decades in the United States.
Harder, who represents California’s 9th Congressional District, reportedly wrote to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), demanding an explanation for her detention.
He said an immigration judge had granted Lawani protection against deportation to Nigeria after determining that she could face persecution if returned to the country. He also disclosed that a federal judge had blocked her removal.
The congressman questioned why ICE continued to detain her despite the reported judicial decisions, describing the case as an example of the agency exceeding its mandate.
“I think this case is the perfect example of ICE breaking their mandate and breaking the law,” Harder said.
California State Senator Jerry McNerney also expressed concern, pledging to intensify pressure on federal authorities to secure Lawani’s release.
“We are going to do everything we can to pressure the federal level to put a stop to this,” he said.
Lawani’s colleagues at the University of San Francisco have also raised concerns over her detention and transfers between immigration facilities.
One of them, Dr Eileen Fry-Bowers, said she received an unexpected message from Lawani informing her that immigration officers had detained her and that she did not understand what was happening.
Fry-Bowers disclosed that Lawani was initially held in California before being transferred to facilities in Texas and later Louisiana.
The professor has reportedly lived in the United States for 21 years, working in the nursing profession and contributing to the training of healthcare professionals.
However, the Department of Homeland Security has defended the immigration action, arguing that Lawani’s employment authorisation did not change her underlying immigration status.
The department said she overstayed her admission to the United States in 2007 and was issued a final removal order in 2013. It maintained that the order remained valid despite her subsequent work authorisation.
DHS said she would remain in immigration custody pending removal, adding that individuals without lawful immigration status should take control of their departure.
The department’s position has intensified the disagreement with lawmakers, who argue that the reported court protections against deportation raise serious questions about the legality of her continued detention.
The available information does not clarify how the 2013 removal order relates to the subsequent judicial decisions or whether further proceedings are pending.
Meanwhile, Lawani’s family, colleagues and political representatives continue to seek her release, with no timeline announced by immigration authorities for her removal.
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