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A family in Prince George's County, Maryland, is pleading for the return of a mother of a U.S. citizen after a distressing video of her deportation to Ghana went viral. The footage shows Ama Suma, who had lived in the United States for nearly two decades, being physically dragged from a plane by several men upon her arrival at Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
The video, which has sparked outrage online, depicts Suma being forcibly removed from the aircraft and pulled along the tarmac. Her family and legal advocates state that she was ill and not fit for travel at the time of her deportation. Her daughter, Nana Osei, expressed deep concern for her mother's well-being, noting that Suma has no support system in Ghana. "To see that happen to your own mother, it's just, it's heartbreaking," Osei told reporters.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Suma was deported due to a 2011 criminal conviction for a theft scheme. In a statement, ICE confirmed her removal, stating she was an "unlawfully present Ghanaian citizen" with a final order of removal. Advocacy groups are now supporting the family's efforts, with the immigrant rights organization CASA de Maryland providing legal assistance.
The case highlights the complexities of U.S. immigration enforcement, where long-term residents with old convictions can become priorities for removal. Suma's lawyer, Nick Katz of CASA, has condemned the treatment shown in the video and is working with the family to explore legal avenues for her potential return. The family's primary goal is to secure her safe passage back to Maryland to reunite with her daughter, raising questions about the humanitarian aspects of deportation procedures. The legal battle focuses on her case and health condition as they challenge the circumstances of her removal.
