Social media activist, Melissa ‘Melly Mel’ Atwell has been detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is currently in a detention facility in Louisiana.
It was reported earlier Thursday that the social media activist was detained for questioning by US authorities in New York; she was reportedly cooperating. It is unclear why Melly Mel was arrested or whether she is facing any charges.
However, when the US ICE online detainee locator system was checked Thursday night, Atwell was found there. Melissa Ann Holder (her name taken after marriage) is said to be in the Richwood Correctional Centre, Louisiana.
The social media activist is said to be pending an immigration hearing or a decision on her immigration status. The News Room understands that Melly Mel went to the US on a visitor’s visa and it is unclear if her legal status in the United States was changed.
According to its website, ICE has the general authority to detain aliens who are subject to removal or removal proceedings, which enables ICE to make these requests.
“ICE lodges immigration detainers against certain aliens after federal, state or local law enforcement agencies have taken them into custody,” it noted.
