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St. Paul man held at Guantánamo, allegedly beaten, deported to Somalia after mother's death

Sep 25, 2026·Location: St. Paul, MN

Country of origin: Somalia

St. Paul man held at Guantánamo, allegedly beaten, deported to Somalia after mother's death
Photo via visaverge.com

Adam Mohamed Abdullah, a 31-year-old Somali auto mechanic and asylum seeker living in St. Paul, was arrested by masked federal agents on December 12, 2025 during 'Operation Metro Surge,' despite holding a work permit, Social Security number, a pending asylum application, and no criminal record beyond two parking tickets, and despite regularly attending ICE check-ins. He was moved through detention facilities in Minnesota, Kentucky and Louisiana over roughly nine months before being transferred to Guantánamo Bay's Camp Six in late August alongside fellow Minnesotans Hassan Abdi Abtidoon and Abdullahi Jamal Abdi. His attorney, Marc Prokosch, said communication with him was limited and possibly not confidential, calling the use of the base a 'political scare tactic,' a characterization Sen. Tina Smith echoed after DHS described the group as having serious criminal histories without presenting evidence specific to Abdullah. Abdullah began a hunger strike over lack of information, after which he said guards beat him and placed him in a freezing solitary cell; while detained, his mother died after authorities denied his request for an international call and voluntary departure to see her. The ACLU sued the federal government over its use of Guantánamo for civil immigration detention, with a hearing set for October 14. Abdullah and the other two men were flown through Kenya and deported to Somalia around September 25, 2026.

Timeline

Sep 25, 2026—Deported to Somalia via Kenya alongside Hassan Abdi Abtidoon and Abdullahi Jamal Abdi
Sep 11, 2026—ACLU sued federal government over use of Guantánamo for civil immigration detention, hearing set for October 14
Sep 1, 2026—Began hunger strike; says guards beat him and placed him in solitary confinement; his mother died after request for call and voluntary departure was denied
Aug 1, 2026—Transferred to Guantánamo Bay's Camp Six after passing through facilities in Minnesota, Kentucky and Louisiana
Dec 12, 2025—Adam Mohamed Abdullah arrested by federal agents during 'Operation Metro Surge'
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