OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Free Ya'akub Ira Vijandre Now

Floor Speech

Date: July 23, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, free Ya'akub Ira Vijandre now.

ICE arrested and detained him for exercising his First Amendment rights. They targeted him for speaking out against genocide and standing up for political prisoners.

Ya'akub is a photojournalist who has lived in the United States for 25 years as a Dreamer, as a DACA recipient. He is a first responder and spent a decade working for American Airlines serving on their CARE Team that supports families following plane crashes.

When the helicopter crashed into a plane in D.C., right here, Ya'akub was there to support grieving families. When Texas experienced the deadliest flood in recent history, Ya'akub volunteered to bring emergency aid to victims.

Now it is our turn to be there for Ya'akub. They are trying to deport him over liking social media posts. Why? Because he wants to save lives no matter faith or ethnicity.

This should frighten all of us. The Trump administration is terrorizing immigrants who disagree with them and targeting political dissent in our country.

We must speak out. We must free Ya'akub now.

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