American College Student Sentenced to One Year in Dubai Prison for Alleged Airport Security Guard Altercation

Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos, a 21-year-old student at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York, has been handed a one-year prison sentence by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for what they described as "assaulting and insulting" an airport security guard during a flight connection in Dubai over the summer. The verdict was delivered on Monday, October 2, following an ordeal that saw De Los Santos effectively trapped in Dubai for nearly three months, as a travel ban prevented her from leaving the country.

De Los Santos's case garnered international attention, with advocacy group Detained in Dubai highlighting her plight. Radha Stirling, the founder of Detained in Dubai, expressed concern over the circumstances, stating, "Elizabeth only intended to transit through Dubai for six hours, but she's been there for months on end and has lost $50,000 in expenses and lawyer's costs." De Los Santos, whose academic pursuits were disrupted by the situation, endured humiliation and trauma during her extended stay in Dubai.

The incident that led to her predicament unfolded on July 14 when De Los Santos, accompanied by a friend, was returning to New York after a vacation in Istanbul. Originally scheduled to connect through Paris, they changed their flight plans to include a layover in Dubai to explore the city during a ten-hour break.

While passing through security at Dubai airport, De Los Santos was asked to remove a waist compressor she was wearing due to a recent surgery. Taken to a private booth, female airport staff removed the garment. De Los Santos's mother claimed that the process was rough and caused discomfort to her daughter, who was still healing from surgery scars. Allegedly, the staff also laughed at her and refused to help her put the complex garment back on.

Feeling violated and uncomfortable, De Los Santos reached out to her friend for assistance. She touched the arm of a security guard who was blocking her path and called for her friend to come and help her. This action led to her detention in a room for hours, with the security guard filing a complaint against her. She was not allowed to leave until she signed a form written in Arabic.

Upon returning to the airport later to catch her New York-bound flight, De Los Santos was informed of the travel ban imposed on her. She was forced to remain in Dubai until the charges against her were heard in court. After weeks of staying in hotels, a judge permitted her to pay 10,000 AED (approximately 2,700 USD) and leave the country. However, Dubai prosecutors appealed the ruling, ultimately resulting in her one-year prison sentence.

The case has sparked outrage and concern, with Detained in Dubai emphasizing the immense stress and adverse impact on De Los Santos's physical and mental well-being. The situation has disrupted her life and left lasting scars. Detained in Dubai founder Radha Stirling called the treatment of visitors in such circumstances "outrageous."

The U.S. State Department issued a statement acknowledging awareness of the detention of a U.S. citizen in Dubai.