October 2nd 2023.
Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos, a college student from New York and business arts major at Lehman College, is currently being held in Dubai. On July 14th, she was returning from a trip to Turkey with a 10-hour layover in the Middle Eastern city. During the layover, she was subjected to what she describes as a "painful and degrading search" from airport security.
The security guards asked Elizabeth to remove a compressor she was wearing for medical reasons. The compressor, which goes around her upper chest and waist, was necessary for her recovery after a surgery. Despite being uncomfortable and scared, Elizabeth complied with their request.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, described Elizabeth's situation as "incredible stress" and "outrageous," adding that it is "no way to treat visitors." After the search was over, Elizabeth claims she touched the female security guard's arm to guide her back to her friend. She was subsequently told she was being detained for "touching the female customs officer" during the search, which she denied.
Unfortunately, this story is not unique. Tierra Allen, a popular TikTok trucking influencer, was detained in Dubai for "screaming" in public and released in August 2023. Elizabeth has been ordered to pay a fine of more than $2,700, but customs officials have appealed her sentence.
Elizabeth's mother has been in tears, unable to understand why her daughter has been held in the country for this long. She needs to be home to continue seeing her doctor. Radha Stirling has called on New York's Congressman Ritchie Torres and Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand for help, in the hopes that they can assist Elizabeth in returning to her home and family.
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