Sering Ceesay, a 63-year-old Gambian national who has lived in the United States since 1994, has been given just 48 hours to leave the country.
He was recently detained and transferred to the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility. His removal order dates back to 1997, when he was instructed to voluntarily depart the US. After failing to do so, the order became a formal deportation notice. In 2010, he was briefly detained by immigration authorities but was later released under a supervision agreement that required regular check-ins.
According to his legal team, Ceesay remained fully compliant with the terms of his supervision for over 14 years. They did not dispute the validity of his deportation order but challenged the abrupt revocation of his supervised status and argued that the current timeline is unjust, especially given his severe medical condition.
Ceesay suffers from coronary artery disease and has a history of heart attacks. His attorneys say a 48-hour deadline is not enough time to arrange the necessary medical support and prepare for departure. A doctor warned that without proper ongoing care, Ceesay’s life would be at serious risk.
The judge acknowledged the challenges but ultimately ruled that “orderly departure” could still be accomplished within the 48-hour period, allowing only enough time to gather belongings, say goodbye, and access medication.
Government attorneys argued that Ceesay had sufficient time to prepare while in custody and dismissed concerns about healthcare access in The Gambia. They emphasized that allowing medical needs to delay deportation could set a precedent that limits removals to only countries with advanced healthcare systems.
Ceesay, fearing for his life, told the court that he would not survive in The Gambia due to inadequate medical care. Despite his plea, the court did not grant a delay. It remains uncertain what happened after he reported to immigration authorities for removal.
