Trump Administration Secures Release Of American Aid Worker In Egypt

WASHINGTON, DC — The Trump administration has secured the release of Aya Hijazi, an Egyptian-American aid worker who was held in Egypt for three years, according to a Friday report from the New York Times.

Egypt, under President Sisi's regime, has serious problems when it comes to excessive force by officials, lack of due process and suppressed civil liberties, according to the State Department, and Hijazi's unjust imprisonment was seen by many human rights activists as representative of larger problems in the country. After Sisi visited with President Trump at the White House, many criticized Trump for praising the Egyptian leader and not making any mention of human rights concerns. Two administration officials, however, told the Times that the government was quietly working to have Hijazi returned to the United States.

Her lawyers said in a statement that they "worked closely with the Trump administration to ensure Aya’s case was prioritized at the highest levels, and we are deeply grateful to President Trump for his personal engagement in resolving Aya’s case." (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch for daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Read the full report at the New York Times.

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