Cincinnati Family Shelters Asylum Seeker Now Facing Deportation

Ousmane Fall, a Senegalese man seeking asylum, was arrested by Arkansas police and is now in ICE custody, leaving his host family worried about his fate.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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A Cincinnati couple, Cheyanne and David Schmitt, took in Ousmane Fall, a 23-year-old Senegalese man seeking asylum, and welcomed him into their family in 2023. However, Fall was recently arrested by Arkansas Highway Police and is now being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), leaving the Schmitt family scrambling to find him legal help and prevent his potential deportation back to Senegal, where he says he faced religious persecution.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges faced by asylum seekers in the U.S. and the uncertainty surrounding their legal status, even when they are welcomed into supportive communities. It also raises questions about the treatment of immigrants and the enforcement of immigration laws, particularly in cases where individuals may have valid claims for asylum.

The details

Ousmane Fall entered the U.S. in Arizona in December 2023 and applied for asylum, citing religious persecution from his own family in Senegal. He moved to Cincinnati in 2023 and was taken in by the Schmitt family, who described him as a hard-working and devout individual. Fall obtained a commercial driver's license and started working for a trucking company in Missouri. However, he was recently arrested by Arkansas police and is now in ICE custody, with his immigration status and asylum case unclear.

  • Fall entered the U.S. in Arizona in December 2023.
  • Fall moved to Cincinnati and was taken in by the Schmitt family in 2023.
  • Fall obtained a commercial driver's license and started working for a trucking company in Missouri last summer.
  • Fall was arrested by Arkansas Highway Police on February 14, 2026.
  • Fall was released from the Crittenden County Jail in Arkansas the next day, but remains in ICE custody.

The players

Ousmane Fall

A 23-year-old Senegalese man who sought asylum in the U.S. after facing religious persecution in his home country.

Cheyanne Schmitt

A Cincinnati woman who befriended Fall and invited him to live with her family, including her husband and two children.

David Schmitt

Cheyanne Schmitt's husband, who works in construction and taught Fall how to install drywall and complete other renovation work.

Pam Mayhew

A personnel department employee at Prime Inc., the trucking company where Fall was working.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that is currently holding Ousmane Fall in custody.

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What they’re saying

“When you think of people you want in this country, he's one of them.”

— Cheyanne Schmitt (The Enquirer)

“We're hoping that they honor the asylum request and allow him to come back to Cincinnati.”

— Cheyanne Schmitt (The Enquirer)

What’s next

The Schmitt family is reaching out to immigration lawyers to try to secure legal representation and assistance for Ousmane Fall, in the hopes of preventing his potential deportation back to Senegal.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex and often uncertain legal status of asylum seekers in the U.S., even when they are welcomed into supportive communities. It underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform and a more compassionate approach to addressing the needs of vulnerable individuals seeking refuge.