The crowd of about 50 people gathered outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in downtown Manchester on Wednesday stopped singing. One by one, they turned around and started cheering as they watched Sugrat Mohamed and his family walk out. They had been afraid that Mohamed would be immediately detained during his ICE appointment.
The crowd gathered around the family to hear the news – Mohamed would not be detained, but he does have an open deportation order, and will only be allowed to stay in the country for the next six months. His family was emotional, but are ready to continue fighting for Mohamed.
“God works in a mysterious way. This is God's work. He gave us six months,” said Sarah Aliers, a friend of the family who went in with Mohamed to support him. “We can do something. We can find the mistake there.”
This is the latest in a long struggle for Mohamed to stay in the United States. According to organizers, Mohamed arrived in the United States as when he was six, fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan with his mother and siblings. In the 30 years Mohamed has been living here, Sudan has split into two countries, making it difficult for Mohamed to acquire certain legal documents.
After a deportation order issued several years ago, ICE has detained Mohamed a few times and unsuccessfully tried to deport him to Sudan. This time, members of the different faith communities hope the attempt will be unsuccessful as well.
“We need to trust God in this moment,” said Pastor Jon Hopkins from Concordia Lutheran church. “But we also need to take action and to do what the family needs us to do, which is to raise some money and get them lawyers.”
outside the ICE offices in downtown Manchester on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
The vigil was part of ongoing efforts from the Immigrant Solidarity Network to support immigrant communities in the state, including a monthly vigil in support of immigrants who are checking in with ICE.
Rev. Jason Wells from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Goffstown said prayer and song offer comfort to the family, and let ICE know about the community support for Mohamed and other immigrants checking in.
“Maybe we don't have the power to change outcomes today,” he said. “But we don't have to let it go unhaunted as they do their work. So maybe they will hear us and they will hear that we are singing for our lives together.”
