Without a passport, deported Iowa mother trapped in Sierra Leone hotel until Oct. 26

An Iowa mother of four U.S. citizen children who was deported to Sierra Leone on 13 October says she is confined to a hotel there without a passport or other identity documents and has been told she can remain in the country only until 26 October. Her family and immigration advocates are pressing U.S. federal officials to secure her return before that deadline.

Key facts

• Who: Fatou Traore, an Iowa mother of four U.S. citizen children
• Deported: to Sierra Leone on 13 October
• Deadline: told she may stay in Sierra Leone only 14 days, until 26 October
• Documents: says she has no passport or other identity documents
• Protection: family says a withholding of removal order protects her from being returned to Ivory Coast

What happened?

Traore was deported to Sierra Leone on 13 October despite what her family describes as a longstanding withholding of removal order protecting her from being returned to Ivory Coast. The family argues the removal took place before a judge ruled on her request to halt it.

On Tuesday, Traore called congressional staff from abroad during a meeting in Davenport between her family and staff for Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Sen. Chuck Grassley. About two dozen members of Escucha Mi Voz Iowa attended, after organizers said they had to push for a meeting when staff initially tried to limit attendance to family members.

What is her situation in Sierra Leone?

Traore told the congressional staff that she is confined to a hotel, lacks freedom of movement and has no passport or other identity documents. She said she had been told she could remain in Sierra Leone for only 14 days, until 26 October, and did not know where authorities would send her next.

She said she feared being sent to Ivory Coast. Her 19-year-old son, Esoumaila Diallo, said the family is not giving up until she is brought home.

What is the family doing?

The family is urging federal officials to secure her safe return to Iowa before the 26 October deadline and is evaluating legal options, including a potential federal lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. Diallo called on Miller-Meeks, Rep. Ashley Hinson, Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst to intervene.

After Tuesday's meeting, Diallo spoke by telephone with Patrick Moran, international president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The family also has legal consultations scheduled for Wednesday with the AFL-CIO and Murray Osorio PLLC, the law firm representing Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

On Monday, Diallo met with Bishop Dennis Walsh of the Catholic Diocese of Davenport, who agreed to contact the Metropolitan Archdiocese in Sierra Leone to request pastoral and diplomatic support, according to the family.

What this means for travellers

The case highlights the consequences of being left without travel documents abroad: Traore says she cannot move freely and does not know where she will be sent after 26 October. Travellers who lose their passport while overseas should contact their country's consular authorities as a first step.

Escucha Mi Voz Iowa and Traore's relatives say they will continue pressing congressional offices, exploring legal action and mobilising community support until she is reunited with her children. The family is calling on federal officials to act urgently as the 26 October deadline approaches.