Moroccan asylum seeker arrested by ICE stepping off flight at Sea-Tac
Aug 10, 2026SeaTac, WAMorocco
Amina Khalifa, a 23-year-old Seattle resident from Morocco who came to the U.S. on a student visa in 2023, was arrested by ICE agents as she stepped off a flight at Sea-Tac International Airport, returning from a vacation in Puerto Rico. Her visa has expired, but she has a pending asylum application and no criminal record, and holds a work authorization permit while employed as a bank teller. Her lawyer, Olia Catala, said Khalifa fled Morocco due to fears of persecution and violence, and colleagues consider her a responsible and respected community member. She was taken to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma.
