The case of Yonas Fikre has made people talk about our rights and how the government watches us. Fikre is an Ethiopian-American businessman and real estate developer in Portland, Oregon. He sued the FBI, saying he was put on the No Fly List without a good reason.
The No Fly List is a secret database that stops people from flying in, out, within, or over the U.S. Not much is known about it because some info is classified. Fikre’s case shows the problems with this secret list and how it can affect our rights.
Background on Yonas Fikre
Yonas Fikre is an Ethiopian-American who has made a mark in real estate and business. He was born in Eritrea but left as a child due to war. He and his family moved to Sudan first, then to the United States, where they became citizens.
In Portland, Oregon, Fikre started in the cell phone industry. He then moved to business, selling consumer electronics in East Africa.
Eritrean Emigree and U.S. Citizen
Fikre’s move from Eritrea to the U.S. is a common story for many Ethiopian-Americans. He left as a child with his family due to war. They found safety in Sudan before making the U.S. their new home and getting U.S. citizenship.
Businessman and Real Estate Developer in Portland, Oregon
In the U.S., Yonas Fikre moved from cell phones to real estate development and entrepreneurship in Portland, Oregon. His work has made him a key figure in the area.
| Key Facts | Values |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Eritrea |
| Current Residence | Portland, Oregon |
| Occupation | Real Estate Developer, Entrepreneur |
| Previous Industry | Cell Phone |
“My journey from Eritrea to the United States has been a testament to the resilience and determination of the Ethiopian-American community. I’m proud to have built a successful business and contributed to the growth of Portland’s thriving real estate market.”
–Yonas Fikre, Entrepreneur and Real Estate Developer
Yonas Fikre’s Trip to Sudan in 2009
In late 2009, Yonas Fikre, an Eritrean-American businessman, went to Sudan. He wanted to look into business opportunities there. Some family members were still in Sudan, so he went to check out possible projects.
Fikre’s trip to Sudan was a big move to grow his business opportunities in East Africa. He saw a lot of potential in the area. He was excited to see if his investments could work out.
| Key Facts about Yonas Fikre’s Sudan Trip |
|---|
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Fikre’s yonas fikre sudan trip 2009 was a big move in his career. He wanted to make the most of the business opportunities in East Africa. This trip led to big changes for him, including a famous legal fight with the U.S. government.
Confrontation with FBI Agents at U.S. Embassy
In 2009, Yonas Fikre had a scary meeting with FBI agents in Sudan. He went to the U.S. embassy and found two FBI agents waiting for him. They told him he was on the fbi no-fly list, which meant he couldn’t go back to the U.S.
Then, the agents started asking him a lot of questions. They wanted to know about the us embassy sudan he visited in Portland, Oregon. They said they could take him off the list if he became an fbi informant and told on his friends. But Fikre said no, he wouldn’t betray his beliefs or his friends.
“They told me that if I would become an informant for them, they would take me off the No Fly List. I told them, ‘I’m not going to do that. That’s not who I am.'”
Because Fikre wouldn’t work with the fbi interrogation, he got stuck in Sudan. He couldn’t go back to the U.S. because of the No Fly List. This event changed his life, leading to a big legal fight.
Detention and Interrogation in UAE
Yonas Fikre left the U.S. embassy in Sudan and went to the United Arab Emirates. There, he was arrested and mistreated by UAE authorities. He said an interrogator told him the FBI asked for his questioning.
Allegations of Torture at FBI’s Behest
Fikre said he faced beatings, water hose strangling, and was forced to stand for long periods. He was held for 106 days in the UAE. FBI agents David Noordeloos and Jason Dundas questioned him, asking him to be an informant, which he refused.
Fikre claimed UAE interrogators first denied working with the FBI. But later, they said the agency was involved in his questioning. The Council on American-Islamic Relations asked the U.S. Department of Justice to look into if Fikre was tortured by the FBI.
“Fikre invoked his right to have a lawyer when questioned by FBI agents David Noordeloos and Jason Dundas. He was asked questions related to his mosque, Masjed As-Saber, and denied any knowledge of individuals related to international terrorism.”
The abuse and questioning of Fikre went on until he was released in September. A low-ranking U.S. embassy official visited him while he was detained. He warned Fikre to say he was being treated well or face more torture.
Fikre’s story is part of a bigger issue. Multiple American Muslims have been detained under anti-terrorism laws outside the U.S. after being put on no-fly lists. This includes Jamal Tarhuni, a Portland businessman, and Michael Migliore, who had to move to Italy.
Exile in Sweden and Legal Battle
Yonas Fikre, a U.S. citizen, couldn’t go back to the U.S. So, he asked for asylum in Sweden. But Sweden said no and sent him back to Portland, Oregon on a private jet. While in Sweden, Fikre sued the FBI. He said they broke his rights by putting him on the No Fly List.
Fikre came to the U.S. as a refugee at 12. He was arrested and questioned in the UAE, at the FBI’s request. He says he was tortured there. He moved to Sweden, where he has family, but after three years, Sweden said he couldn’t stay. He had to go back to the U.S.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of days Fikre spent in custody in the UAE | 106 |
| Years Fikre spent seeking asylum in Sweden | 3 |
| Minimum amount of damages Fikre is seeking in his lawsuit | $10 million |
Fikre sued the FBI for putting him on the No Fly List without following the law. He wants to be taken off the list and is asking for money. Even though he’s back in the U.S., he’s still worried about being on the list again.
Fikre’s story shows how some U.S. citizens are forced to leave their homes because of the No Fly List. This list is shared with 22 other countries and affects people flying on U.S. airlines worldwide. His case warns us about government power and the need for more openness and fairness in such programs.
“I have no idea how long I’m going to be here, or what’s going to happen to me. I don’t know if I’m safe or not.”
– Yonas Fikre, on his return to the U.S. after being denied asylum in Sweden
Lawsuit Against FBI for Violating Constitutional Rights
Yonas Fikre sued the FBI. He said the FBI broke his right to due process by putting him on the No Fly List without fair notice. He also said the government unfairly targeted him because of his race, religion, and where he came from.
Allegations of Lack of Due Process
Fikre said the FBI took away his right to due process. He claimed the government didn’t tell him why he was on the No Fly List. This made it hard for him to fight the decision.
Claims of Discrimination
Fikre believed the FBI put him on the No Fly List because of his race, religion, and where he came from. He thought this was against the law and unfair discrimination.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Individuals challenging their placement on the No Fly List who were removed during litigation | 70% |
| Plaintiffs removed from the list during the litigation process | 28 out of 40 |
| Plaintiffs removed from the list during litigation who had the constitutionality of their initial placement adjudicated on the merits | 0 |
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Yonas Fikre on March 19, 2024. This was a big win for people fighting the government’s No Fly List. The decision stressed the need to protect our rights and stop the government from unfairly targeting people.
“The government’s actions in this case were a clear violation of Yonas Fikre’s constitutional rights. Placing individuals on the No Fly List without due process and based on factors like race, religion, and national origin is unacceptable in a democratic society.”
yonas fikre Removed from No-Fly List in 2016
In May 2016, the U.S. government told Yonas Fikre he was off the No Fly List. This was a big win for Fikre after years of fighting. He had been on the list without a clear reason.
The No Fly List got bigger after the 9/11 attacks. It’s not clear how many people are on it, but by 2016, about 81,000 couldn’t fly to, from, within, or over the U.S.
Fikre’s story shows how the No Fly List lacks transparency and fair process. He’s an Eritrean-American businessman and real estate developer from Portland, Oregon. In 2010, he found out he was on the list without a reason. After being detained and tortured in the UAE, Fikre fought hard to clear his name and travel freely again.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Individuals on the No Fly List by 2016 | Approximately 81,000 |
| U.S. citizens and residents challenging their No Fly List placement in court | 40 (identified by the ACLU) |
Removing Yonas Fikre from the No Fly List in 2016 was a big win. But, it didn’t fix all the issues with the list. The Supreme Court’s recent decision in Fikre’s case shows the ongoing fight for transparency and fairness in the No Fly List system.
“The No Fly List dramatically expanded after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and details surrounding it are mostly not publicly available, with some being classified.”
Government’s Bid to Dismiss Case as Moot
The government wanted to drop Yonas Fikre’s lawsuit. They said his removal from the FBI no-fly list made the case pointless. They said Fikre won’t be put on the list again based on what they know now.
Declaration of No Future Relisting
But, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said no. They said just being taken off the list doesn’t mean it won’t happen again. The government promised Fikre won’t be on the list again, but the court wasn’t convinced.
The Supreme Court stepped in because different courts had different views on this. Justice Neil Gorsuch said just stopping a practice doesn’t make a case go away. The Supreme Court made sure the case was still valid.
Justice Samuel Alito said sharing secret info might not always be needed to prove the case is pointless in cases about national security.
The FBI v. Fikre case reminds us to think about if a case is still valid before and during the trial. The government’s effort to say the case was pointless was denied. This let the Supreme Court look into the FBI’s no-fly list policies more closely.
Supreme Court Ruling in Fikre’s Favor
The Supreme Court made a big win for Yonas Fikre. They said the government didn’t prove Fikre could be on the No Fly List again. This was because the government promised not to put him on the list with the info they had.
This win means Fikre’s case can move forward in the lower courts. Fikre, a U.S. citizen from Eritrea, was stuck abroad for over four years after being on the No Fly List. He turned down the FBI’s offer to be an informant. Then, he was arrested, jailed, and tortured in the United Arab Emirates.
Justice Neil Gorsuch led the unanimous decision. It stresses the importance of caution in national security matters. Fikre argued the FBI didn’t show enough to stop him from being on the list again. He pointed out the lack of review in the government’s actions.