Couple’s Ordeal Highlighted Amid Immigration Detention Issues
Latif Hahraoui has remained largely silent about the 108 days he spent in immigration detention, primarily at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey. He and his wife, Sandra, wish to move forward, striving to forget the fear and anxiety that marked their lives during that time.
Latif expressed his frustration with the system, stating, “They treat immigrants like animals, as if we have no rights. It was torture.” In her effort to heal, Sandra commented, “We’re trying not to remember it and working on recovering together.”
The New Jersey couple, who have been married for 15 years, found themselves in this situation while traveling to Florida in August 2025. Latif was detained at the airport by immigration authorities, currently facing backlash over President Donald Trump’s mass deportation strategy. Protests erupted outside Delaney Hall in May, when detainees began a hunger strike to protest the alleged poor conditions, including rotten food and inadequate medical care. In response, the Department of Homeland Security dismissed these claims and asserted that the hunger strike had ended, despite ongoing concerns about the facility’s conditions.
Latif’s detention stemmed from a deportation order that he was unaware of, linked to a legal notice that was delivered to the wrong address. Consequently, he was absent from court when a judge ordered his deportation in absentia 16 years prior. Sandra later confirmed that the same judge rescinded the deportation order while Latif was in custody.
Latif was held for approximately four months across various locations, including Delaney Hall, Louisiana, and Arizona. During his time in custody, he recounted witnessing physical abuse by guards and experiencing 10 distressing days in solitary confinement after refusing deportation. The Department of Homeland Security has yet to respond to these serious allegations.
Sandra vividly remembers her final visit before Latif’s transfer back to Delaney Hall. “He was incredibly traumatized and terrified. I thought to myself, ‘What have they done to him?'” she recalled, highlighting the emotional toll of their separation.
Photographer Documents Family Struggles
Photographer Cory Orn documented the emotional separation and eventual reunion of the Hahrawi family, capturing poignant moments that reflect their traumatic journey. Sandra kept her spirits up by surrounding herself with notecards bearing Bible verses, finding strength in her faith amid uncertainty. “I painted crosses all over the house to remind me of God’s presence when I was scared,” she shared.
