A green card holder recently released from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody is seeking therapy after a traumatic experience in detention. Charity Grace Mukamuri, 43, was released on June 3 after being held at the Camp East Montana detention facility in El Paso, Texas. Her experiences formed part of a Newsweek investigation into conditions at the facility.
Mukamuri’s time in custody from late 2025 to mid-2026 coincided with deteriorating conditions and alleged retaliation after external information sharing. She expressed relief at her release but acknowledged the challenges of coping with the trauma. “I feel a sense of relief that my process is done…but at the same time, I’m struggling to cope,” Mukamuri said. “I’m glad I’m with my family…but I can’t help but think about my many friends that are still stuck.”
Mukamuri is originally from Zimbabwe and came to the United States in 2001 on a student visa to attend Victory Bible College. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) previously accused her of cruelty toward children but did not elaborate on the allegations. Her family insists she has no criminal record and possesses a valid green card.
Under former President Trump and Secretary Noem, the DHS emphasized consequences for breaking the law, including acts of cruelty. Mukamuri was released following a court process requiring immigration authorities to free her within 24 hours. An order on June 2 by Immigration Judge Stephen Ruhle at the El Paso SPC Immigration Court enabled her release, finding her removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act but granting her application for cancellation of removal for lawful permanent residents.
After release, Mukamuri was transported to a shelter before reuniting with her family. “I was excited and happy to be out—but now I was faced with the reality of what’s next,” she said. Mukamuri expressed the need for therapy to cope with the detention’s impact. “We have been talking about going into therapy, and we’re going to need that therapy,” she noted.
Mukamuri operates the Isaiah 54 Project, a nonprofit providing meals to Tulsa’s homeless community. She was taken into federal custody on August 27, 2025, after being pulled over while driving in Oklahoma. Mukamuri was initially held at Tulsa County Jail, then transferred through several facilities before reaching Camp East Montana, where she spent several months. She was later moved to the El Paso Processing Center before her June release.
Mukamuri highlighted a lack of progress in her case and limited early legal communication. “It took almost two and a half months for me to get final access to talk to my attorney,” she stated. By January, conditions inside the facility remained inadequate, prompting detainees to document their experiences for Newsweek. Mukamuri reported poor food quality, medical issues, and alleged retaliation.
After the publication of their documentation, Mukamuri said staff began seeking those involved and accused her of having an improper relationship with a congressional staffer. She denied the accusation and described it as an effort to discredit her. Mukamuri also reported her belongings were searched and damaged.
Following the media attention, Mukamuri claimed there was increased staff intimidation and threats. “They started intimidating me…they threatened me, saying, ‘we can make your life miserable,’” she said. She feared retaliation, adding, “I didn’t feel safe communicating with anyone.”
Mukamuri continues to process her experience and focus on life rebuilding while advocating for others detained. “My heart breaks because I know the conditions that they are living in,” she said about fellow detainees. Her motivation to speak out stemmed from a conviction that detainees’ experiences needed documentation. “At least the word is out…at least the world knows that whatever they are hearing, it is true,” she asserted.