21-year-old asylum seeker detained at Florida immigration center
Dec 28, 2025·Location: Key West, FL
Country of origin: Turkmenistan

Malik Velimetov, 21, born in Turkmenistan but raised in Key West, was taken into custody by US Border Patrol on December 28, 2025, while traveling with his family on US 1 in Marathon. He was detained for a month at Florida's immigration detention center in the Everglades due to his pending asylum case and was released with an electronic monitor. His family, including his parents and 17-year-old sister, were also taken into custody and separated from him.
Sources
- Teen found dead in Florida ICE detention sparks investigation
Newsweek·Mar 20, 2026·archived copy
- 'Absolute mental torture.' Freed from Alligator Alcatraz, Keys man still stuck in ICE's sights
gwenfilosa.substack.com·Jan 30, 2026·archived copy
- marconews.com
- Boy, 15, briefly detained at ‘Alligator Alcatraz,' attorney says
nbcmiami.com·Jul 21, 2025·archived copy
- Miami Herald
- Miami Herald
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