Lebanese Woman Alleges ICE Officer Assault and Green Card Offer in Texas
A Lebanese woman alleges an ICE officer sexually assaulted her and promised a Green Card in exchange for sex at a Texas detention facility.
NEW DELHI, Nov 15: A 21-year-old woman from Lebanon has accused a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer at a Texas detention center of sexual assault and soliciting sex in exchange for a green card.
Rahaf Ali Almerhij, who identifies as Lucy Wise, made these allegations in an interview and through a sworn declaration to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. She claims that Markell Wallace, a deportation officer, took her into a secluded room at the El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas, where he allegedly assaulted her and threatened her husband with deportation if she did not comply with his advances.
“He told me, ‘I’m going to give you a green card,’” Almerhij said. She recounted how Wallace allegedly used his influence over her immigration case as leverage for his demands, stating, “I did not consent to any of this; I refused and told him to stop.”
The Department of Homeland Security has denied the allegations, asserting that claims of misconduct at the facility are false. A spokesperson reiterated the agency’s commitment to thoroughly investigating credible complaints of misconduct.
Almerhij entered the U.S. illegally from Montreal in August 2024 and was detained near the Rio Grande Valley the following February. After her attorney withdrew from her case in April 2026, she claims Wallace called her in for a discussion regarding her immigration status, leading to the alleged incident.
In her declaration, Almerhij described the isolated room where the incident took place, noting the absence of visible security cameras. She detailed the assault, claiming that Wallace removed her clothing against her will and attempted to expose himself.
Months after the alleged assault, Almerhij’s husband, Sam Wise, learned of the incident through a mutual friend. He expressed his heartbreak and anger upon discovering the situation. “I carry guilt that I could not protect her, and pain that she suffered alone and in silence for months,” he said.
Prior to disclosing the assault, Almerhij and her husband had filed complaints regarding her medical care and detention conditions but did not mention the assault in those documents. Wise indicated that Almerhij was hesitant to share details due to fear of retaliation and the stigma associated with sexual assault in their culture.
She expressed the impact of the incident on her life, stating, “I feel like all my life has been destroyed.” The couple continues to seek justice and accountability for the alleged misconduct at the detention facility.