The British newspaper Daily Mail has reported that a Libyan national is being held in detention by the US immigration authorities in the state of Minnesota, despite suffering from a rare and life-threatening genetic skin disorder, raising serious concerns over his health and the possibility of deportation to Libya.
According to the report, the detainee is 32-year-old Hani Douklaf, who suffers from epidermolysis bullosa, a rare inherited condition that causes the skin to blister and tear from even minor friction.
His family has expressed deep fear that deporting him to Libya, where specialized medical care for the disease is extremely limited, would put his life at immediate risk and could amount to a death sentence.
Douklaf reportedly traveled to the United States several years ago specifically to seek advanced medical treatment unavailable in Libya.
During his time in the country, he repeatedly applied for asylum while continuing his treatment. He later earned a university degree from Saint Paul College and went on to work in the information technology sector, building a stable life while managing his medical condition.
The Daily Mail quoted family members as saying that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers restrained Douklaf with metal shackles on his hands and feet during his detention. Because of the fragility of his skin, the restraints reportedly caused severe abrasions, open wounds, and tearing, significantly worsening his condition and requiring urgent medical attention.
Following his detention, Douklaf was transferred from the immigration facility to M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital in the city of Edina for treatment.
His family has voiced alarm over reports that authorities may transfer him to a detention center in El Paso, Texas, warning that long-distance transport and detention conditions could further endanger his health.
The case has fueled renewed debate about the treatment of detainees with severe medical conditions and the humanitarian obligations of immigration enforcement agencies. Human rights advocates argue that individuals with critical illnesses should not be subjected to detention practices that exacerbate their conditions or returned to countries where appropriate medical care is not available.
US immigration authorities have not yet issued a detailed public response to the family’s claims, while Douklaf’s relatives continue to appeal for his release on medical and humanitarian grounds.