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Woman detained by ICE released from KY jail after family speaks about her lack of care • Kentucky Lantern

Kentucky Lantern · August 1, 2026

From left to right, U.S. Reps. Delia Ramirez, Gwen Moore and Morgan McGarvey go to a Northern Kentucky jail to see conditions for people being held by ICE. (Photo provided by U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey’s office)

A woman who was detained by federal immigration agents at the Louisville airport a couple of weeks ago has been released from custody Friday.

A federal judge ordered the release of Sarafinah Bukirwa and her family paid her bond, according to media reports.

Earlier this week, Bukirwa’s brother, Isaac Kabunga, appeared with Democratic U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey and said he witnessed ICE agents detain her at the Louisville airport on July 22. He dropped her off as she was heading to a conference on sickle cell anemia. Bukirwa has the disease and operates a nonprofit focusing on support for those who have it, Sarafinah Sickle Cell Society.

Under a visa, she came to the U.S. from Uganda to expand her work and applied for asylum. McGarvey said she was “doing everything the way that the…