(RNS) — Advocates are calling for the release of Filipino-American filmmaker Ya’akub Ira Vijandre, a Muslim who was detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement outside his Dallas home last week, arguing he was detained illegally because he is protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Vijandre’s arrest on Oct. 7 marks the second time a well-known Muslim community member in Dallas was detained by immigration officials in less than a month. In late September, community leader Marwan Marouf was detained by ICE. Advocates say Marouf’s arrest was part of a Trump administration effort to criminalize pro-Palestinian activism and suppress free speech, while the administration said he overstayed his visa and was denied a green card due to past support for a troubled, now-defunct foundation.
Vijandre, an artist known for his solidarity activism for Palestinians, is legally protected from deportation under DACA, according to his lawyers from the Muslim Legal Fund of America, who released a joint statement with the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Texas DFW, condemning his arrest.
“To detain him is to trample on justice itself,” the Oct. 8 statement read. “ICE’s actions are not only unlawful, but also a disturbing abuse of power and a direct violation of his rights.”
Vijandre, who is being held at Bluebonnet Detention Facility, about 200 miles west of Dallas in Texas, was born in the Philippines and settled in the U.S. as a child. His friends said he is a beloved storyteller and photographer recognized for uplifting marginalized people. He converted to Islam in 2022 and teaches Filipino martial arts.
“He was really connected to his Filipino roots, but he also loved other cultures,” said Mohammad Ayesh, an organizer in Dallas and friend of Vijandre. “His whole focus it seemed was just around humans telling human stories.”
Over the past two week …