ICE Highlights Case of Iraqi National with Outstanding Deportation Order Facing New Robbery Charges
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a public safety alert regarding Hazhan Yassen Guly, an Iraqi national currently residing within the United States. Federal authorities state that Guly is present in the country unlawfully and is currently facing serious pending criminal charges, including armed robbery and robbery.
According to Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Guly is not merely an undocumented individual but is classified by the agency as a “criminal illegal alien” due to his legal history. Records indicate that Guly has been subject to a final order of removal since 2011. Despite the federal mandate issued over a decade ago requiring his departure from the United States, he has remained in the country. ICE officials are using this case to underscore the agency’s focus on non-citizens who have ignored court orders and subsequently allegedly re-offended.
The case highlights significant complexities within the international deportation process. The 13-year gap between Guly’s removal order and his continued presence in the U.S. points to long-standing diplomatic frictions. Historically, Iraq has been classified at various times as a “recalcitrant” country—a designation for nations that delay or refuse to accept the repatriation of their own citizens. Consequently, U.S. immigration authorities often face legal hurdles; under Supreme Court precedents such as Zadvydas v. Davis, the government generally cannot indefinitely detain individuals whom they cannot physically deport, often leading to supervised release.
While ICE emphasizes Guly’s history to advocate for stricter enforcement, legal observers note that the current charges of armed robbery are pending, and under the U.S. justice system, the accused retains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law. Civil liberties advocates frequently argue that highlighting individual cases based on nationality and immigration status can politicize criminal justice proceedings. They contend that such public notifications may obscure the broader systemic issues—such as diplomatic standoffs and court backlogs—that prevent the timely resolution of removal orders issued years prior.
