Xiukun Wang (pronounced as Wang Xiukun) had been living in the United States for nearly 30 years, but that does not necessarily mean she has a legally permanent “home” of her own.
On December 16, 2025, Xiukun Wang received a notice from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to report to their office in Los Angeles.
Born in China in 1956, she has her own business, pays taxes, attends church, and has always complied with immigration regulations.
However, on that day, she was re-detained by ICE and taken to an immigration detention center.
In 1992, she acquired Sierra Leonean nationality. Due to China not recognizing dual nationality, she lost her Chinese nationality as a consequence.
However, she did not actually live in the West African country. Court records show that she only stayed in Sierra Leone for about 20 days that year, and she did not return or reside there thereafter, nor did she have any family or other ties.
In May 1997, she entered the United States with a non-immigrant visa.
She had applied for asylum previously, but due to her former lawyer’s negligence, in 1999, an immigration judge issued an order of removal against her without her knowledge. In 2008, she was detained by ICE for approximately 9 months.
After her release in 2009, she has been under ICE supervision. Court records show that over the years, she has complied with the supervision conditions and has been living openly in the community.
Until December 16, 2025, she merely reported to ICE as instructed, yet she lost her freedom once again.
Following Xiukun Wang’s detention, her lawyer inquired with ICE about whether there were significant changes that would warrant revoking her original release arrangement and a high likelihood of her being deported in the foreseeable future.
ICE deportation officials replied that both China and Sierra Leone are currently issuing travel documents to their nationals or citizens; as Xiukun Wang holds passports from both countries, it is expected that travel documents can be obtained.
Subsequently, Xiukun Wang filed for a restraining order with the federal court.
The court pointed out that ICE did not provide factual basis to support this claim; Xiukun Wang no longer had a Chinese passport at the time, as she had lost her Chinese nationality after acquiring Sierra Leonean nationality; moreover, she had no connections with both China and Sierra Leone.
On August 19, 2026, the court ruled that ICE’s re-detention of her without prior notice and an opportunity to present a defense violated due process.
The court mandated that if the government were to detain her again in the future, a pre-detention hearing must be conducted, and clear and convincing evidence must be presented to prove her flight risk or danger.