The Libertarian National Committee is voting on a resolution calling for the release of detained activist Izzy Aly, a Florida-based libertarian activist who has been in immigration custody since December.
The motion was first introduced by Region 3 South Rep. Keith Thompson. It calls for the release of Islam “Izzy” Aly, who was detained by the Department of Homeland Security on December 22 while returning to the United States from Egypt after settling matters related to his late father’s estate. It states that Aly has maintained lawful immigration status in the United States for approximately a decade and has not been charged with a crime.
The resolution also raises concerns about Aly’s treatment in custody, alleging that he was diagnosed with stage-three chronic kidney disease but not informed of the condition for roughly two months, delaying treatment and increasing the risk of further progression. It claims that he has received limited medical attention and has not been provided recommended follow-up care, as well as that he has lost housing and personal belongings due to the amount of time he has spent in custody.
Beyond Aly’s individual case, the resolution condemns the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security as “inhumane” and “unjustifiable,” and again calls for the abolition of both agencies. It also calls on party members, affiliates, and allies to engage in public advocacy on behalf of detainees similar to Aly, including by attending protests and supporting them through legal defense efforts.
In seeking co-sponsors, Thompson said he intentionally chose not to include a directive with the proposal and expressed confidence that members would voluntarily unite behind the cause and use party platforms to raise awareness.
Several members, including LNC Chair Steven Nekhaila, initially expressed hesitation to co-sponsor and wanted to wait for additional details surrounding Aly’s case to be released. However, the motion secured enough support for a ballot to be opened after three additional members signed on.
Independent Political Report first learned from a friend of Aly about his detention earlier last month. After being stopped by immigration enforcement on his way home from Egypt, Aly remained in custody for several hours at the airport before being transferred to the GEO-owned Moshannon Valley Processing Center, a private immigration detention facility in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.
IPR was able to locate Aly in a database maintained by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, which originally showed that he was scheduled for an initial hearing on March 23; however, that hearing has since been pushed out to April 13. The Access Corrections commissary system used by the Moshannon Valley Processing Center also listed an individual named Islam Aly currently housed at the facility and assigned the same identification number provided to IPR.
Several of the concerns surrounding Aly’s health outlined in the resolution, including details related to his kidney disease diagnosis and delayed treatment, were also shared with Independent Political Report at the time.
As of this article, ten members have voted in favor of the proposal, with one alternate voting against and two other members abstaining. At-large Rep. Robert Vinson, himself a Floridian, has also offered his legal services in support of Aly’s case. The ballot will remain open through April 2, with a three-fourths majority required for approval due to the motion being treated as a public policy resolution.
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