‘They attacked my religion, my faith’: Muslim photojournalist detained by ICE speaks out

Fri, 12 Dec 2025

Ya’akub Vijandre, held in ICE detention in Georgia, tells Guardian he is concerned for safety of family and friends

Ya’akub Vijandre, a Muslim photojournalist, martial arts teacher and first responder who ICE detained in October for posting on social media, told the Guardian that the government is “attacking my faith” and that he was “concerned about the safety” of his family and friends.

Speaking in his first interview from Georgia’s Folkston detention center, the 38-year-old said guards treat detainees “like animals”, yelling at them when they don’t understand English. One guard responded to his request to use the bathroom during a visit to the detention center’s library by telling him, “just piss on yourself”.