"They dropped us like animals": Palestinian exposes secretive US deportation

• Eight Palestinians, including Maher Awad, deported from US to West Bank via private Gulfstream jet.
• Men shackled during multi-stop flight, abandoned at Ni’lin checkpoint without legal support.
• Human rights groups call operation "highly unusual", raising concerns over due process and safety.

Sitting in his family home in Rammun, 24-year-old Maher Awad stares at a smartphone screen. On the other end, thousands of miles away in Michigan, is the face of a four-month-old son he has never held.

Awad is one of eight Palestinian men caught up in a controversial US immigration policy shift. In an exclusive interview, he recounted a harrowing journey that began with a 911 call for help and ended with him being dumped at a military checkpoint in the West Bank in the middle of the night.

From Kalamazoo to a Jail Cell

Maher moved to the United States a decade ago, seeking the "American Dream". He attended high school in Michigan, worked at his family’s shawarma restaurant in Kalamazoo, and built a life with his partner, Sandra.

His troubles began in February 2025, not because of a crime, but one he reported. After calling police to report a break-in, responding officers discovered an outstanding domestic violence charge from the previous year. Though charges were later dropped, the arrest triggered a detainer from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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"I was in the process of getting my Green Card. I had a Social Security number, I paid my taxes, I had a driver's license," Awad said. "I thought if I followed the rules, I would be safe."

Instead, Awad spent the next year shuffled through 14 detention centers across the US, including facilities in Texas and Louisiana. He was in custody when his son, Taj, was born.

The Little Rocket Ship

On January 21, Awad’s journey took a surreal turn. He was led onto a luxury Gulfstream private jet owned by Florida billionaire Gil Dezer, a close associate of Donald Trump.

The contrast between the "plush leather seats" and the condition of the passengers was stark. Awad described being shackled by wrists, waist, and ankles for the entire multi-stop flight spanning New Jersey, Ireland, and Bulgaria before landing in Tel Aviv.

"The guards treated us like criminals. We were shackled even while we ate. We had to bend our heads down to the food because we couldn't lift our hands," he recalled.

Abandoned at the Border

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, the men were handed over to 'Israeli' security forces. They were not taken to a processing center or given a chance to contact lawyers. Instead, they were driven to the Ni’lin checkpoint near Ramallah.

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"They dropped us off like animals on the side of the road," Awad said. Shivering in light prison-issued tracksuits, the men walked until they found a local home. University professor Mohammed Kanaan eventually took them in, providing food and a phone to call their families.

Highly Unusual Policy Shift

The deportation of Palestinians directly to the West Bank via private luxury aircraft marks a "highly unusual" and "secretive" operation by the US administration. Legal experts and human rights groups criticized the move, noting that such deportations often bypass due process and leave individuals in a high-conflict zone without resources.

For Maher Awad, politics matter less than personal loss.

• Ten years of life in America gone.
• Zero days with his newborn son.
• One uncertain future in a land he barely remembers.

"America was heaven for me," Awad said, his voice trailing off as he looked at the image of his son on the screen. "Now, I just want to be a father."