A 21-year-old Lebanese woman currently residing in Mexico has filed a formal complaint accusing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer of sexual assault at a detention centre in Texas. The woman, identified as Rahaf Ali Almerhij, who also uses the name Lucy Wise, alleges that ICE deportation officer Markell Wallace assaulted her while she was being held at the El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville.
In a sworn declaration submitted to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General, Almerhij claims that Wallace took her to an isolated room within the facility and touched her without her consent. She further alleges that the officer offered to facilitate her path to permanent legal status in the United States in exchange for sexual favours. According to the complaint, Almerhij refused his advances and told him to stop. She also claims the officer threatened to have her husband, a U.S. lawful permanent resident, arrested and deported if she did not comply.
Almerhij, who had been studying nursing at Texas A&M University prior to her detention, stated she did not report the incident immediately due to fear of retaliation. She was granted voluntary departure on May 1 and has since relocated to Mexico. On October 9, her husband, Sam Wise, filed sexual misconduct complaints with four DHS and ICE oversight offices. Almerhij met with investigators from the DHS Office of Inspector General on October 23 at a border crossing in Mission, Texas, where she provided a 59-page handwritten diary detailing her experiences during detention.
A spokesperson for the DHS told Newsweek that the claims of misconduct at the facility are false. The department noted that while it treats allegations of misconduct with seriousness and conducts investigations when claims are substantiated, it currently denies the specifics of this case.
Key facts
- Rahaf Ali Almerhij alleges she was sexually assaulted at the El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas.
- The accused is identified as ICE deportation officer Markell Wallace.
- Almerhij provided a 59-page handwritten diary to DHS investigators on October 23.
- The DHS has publicly denied the allegations, labelling them as false.
- Almerhij entered the U.S. illegally in August 2024 and was arrested by Border Patrol in February 2026.
Why it matters
The case has triggered an investigation by the DHS Office of Inspector General. The outcome of this inquiry will determine whether disciplinary action or further legal proceedings are initiated against the accused officer.
Background
Prior to the sexual misconduct allegations, Almerhij and her husband had raised other concerns regarding the detention centre, including reports of inadequate medical eye care and privacy violations, such as claims that male employees could view female detainees while they were naked.
Source: Times of India
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