ICE Arrests Alma Bowman, Questions About Activism
On Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the arrest of 58-year-old Alma Bowman, with the Daily Caller News Foundation reporting that referring to her as an “immigration activist” is misleading.
Bowman’s detention was first reported back in May, with Atlanta News covering her case, while Georgia Recorder referred to her as an “immigration activist.” She was taken into custody in March following a regular check-in at ICE’s office in Atlanta. Her permanent residency was reportedly revoked due to a $1,200 bad check conviction.
Though the debt has been settled, records indicate a 2013 drug-related case involving counterfeit checks and possession of methamphetamine. In 2013, she pled guilty to forgery, according to Macon Telegraph.
ICE described Bowman as having a lengthy criminal history, stating, “Alma Bowman is an experienced criminal involved in illegal activities for decades, harming Americans in the process.” They listed multiple felony convictions, including forgery and drug possession, emphasizing that these are not isolated incidents but part of a continued pattern of exploitation.
At the time of her 2013 conviction, she learned she was not a U.S. citizen but rather a legal permanent resident. Transferred to federal custody in 2017, she remained until her release in 2020.
During her detention at the Irwin County Detention Center, Bowman became a significant whistleblower, alleging non-consensual gynecological procedures were carried out on immigrant women. She also advocated for legislation addressing citizenship for certain children of immigrants.
Since her release, she has been required to check in regularly with ICE. However, in March, she was detained once more and sent to a facility in South Georgia.
At the time of her arrest, Bowman was accompanied by family and her attorney, Samantha Hamilton, while supporters rallied outside. Hamilton recounted, “They claimed they would take Alma to another room for a fingerprint. But instead, they immediately removed her from the waiting area and took her to an SUV bound for Stewart Detention Center.”
Bowman’s father, Lawrence, served in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in the Philippines before returning to the States when she was 10 years old. The family has lived in Macon, Georgia since then.
Hamilton argues that ICE is breaching its own regulations concerning individuals claiming U.S. citizenship, specifically citing ICE Policy 16001.2.
Responses from Hamilton regarding the situation were not immediately available.
