Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos is a 21-year-old student from New York who has been detained in Dubai since July 14, 2023. She is accused of assaulting and insulting a female security officer at the Dubai airport during a security search that left her half-naked and humiliated. She faces jail time and hefty fines in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), despite paying a 10,000 AED ($2,722) fine that was later appealed by the customs officials.
Why was Elizabeth Polanco detained in Dubai?
Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos is still detained in Dubai and faces jail time for allegedly assaulting and insulting a security officer at the Dubai airport. She has been in the UAE since July 14, 2023, and has been unable to leave the country due to a travel ban. She has paid a fine of 10,000 AED ($2,722), but the customs officials have appealed the sentence and demanded that she be jailed instead. Her next hearing date is on October 23, 2023.
Her case has attracted international attention and support from people and celebrities who have signed a petition to demand her release. The petition, which was created by Detained in Dubai, an organization that helps victims of injustice in the UAE, has gathered over 100,000 signatures so far. The organization’s CEO, Radha Stirling, has been advocating for Elizabeth’s release and calling for the US government to intervene and protect her rights as an American citizen.
Quick Profile
| Name | Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos |
| Age | 21 years old |
| Birthplace | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Residence | New York, USA |
| Education | Business arts student at Lehman College |
| Profession | Operations manager in retail |
| Incident | Accused of assaulting and insulting a security officer at Dubai airport on July 14, 2023 |
| Career | Student |
Age, Parents & University
Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos was born in 2002, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Her current age is 21 years old (as of 2023). She moved to New York with her family when she was six years old. She has two siblings: a sister named Maria and a brother named Jose. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Santos, who work as a taxi driver and a housekeeper, respectively.
Elizabeth is studying business arts at Lehman College in New York, while working as an operations manager in retail. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and enjoys traveling, dancing, and reading. She is single and does not have any children.
The Incident
On July 14, 2023, Elizabeth was traveling from Istanbul to New York with her friend Sofia, after having a surgery that required her to wear a waist trainer as part of her recovery. They had a 10-hour stopover in Dubai, where they planned to visit the city and do some shopping.
However, things took a turn for the worse when they went through the security at the Dubai airport. Elizabeth was asked to remove her waist trainer, which covered her waist, stomach, and upper chest. She complied with the request, but felt uncomfortable and violated by the way the security staff treated her.
According to Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos, the security women gave her “nasty stares” and laughed at her in Arabic while inspecting her swollen wounds. She needed help putting her waist trainer back on, and tapped one of the security women on the arm to get her attention. However, this was interpreted as an assault by the security staff, who detained Elizabeth and filed a complaint against her.
Elizabeth was kept in a room for several hours, where she signed a form in Arabic that she did not understand. She was then allowed to leave the airport, but was later informed that she was placed on a travel ban and could not leave the country until the case was resolved.
Legal Battle & Fine
On August 24, 2023, Elizabeth appeared before a court in Dubai, where she was ordered to pay a 10,000 AED ($2,722) fine for assaulting and insulting the security officer. This would have allowed her to leave the UAE, but the customs officials appealed the sentence and demanded that Elizabeth be jailed instead.
The appeal process in Dubai is automatic and does not require any merit or evidence. The next hearing date was set for October 23, 2023, leaving Elizabeth stranded in Dubai for more than two months.
Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos has been staying at a hotel in Dubai with Sofia, who decided to stay with her friend until the end of the ordeal. They have been living off their savings and relying on their families for financial support. Elizabeth has also missed her classes and work in New York due to the travel ban.
Elizabeth has hired a lawyer in Dubai to defend her case, but she has little hope of getting justice in the UAE legal system. She claims that she has been treated unfairly and harshly by the authorities, who have ignored her rights and dignity as a human being.
She has also reached out to Detained in Dubai, an organization that helps victims of injustice in the UAE. The organization’s CEO, Radha Stirling, has been advocating for Elizabeth’s release and calling for international attention to her case.
Stirling said that Elizabeth’s case is one of many examples of how foreigners can be easily arrested and prosecuted in Dubai for trivial or false accusations. She warned that travelers should be aware of the risks and dangers of visiting the UAE.
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Public Reaction
Elizabeth’s case has sparked outrage and sympathy from people around the world who have heard about her plight. Many have expressed their support and solidarity with Elizabeth on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram.
Some celebrities have also joined the campaign to free Elizabeth from Dubai. For instance, Cardi B, a famous rapper who is also of Dominican descent, posted a video on Instagram urging her fans to sign a petition to demand Elizabeth’s release.
The petition, which was created by Detained in Dubai, has gathered over 100,000 signatures so far. It calls on the UAE government to drop the charges against Elizabeth and allow her to return to New York safely.
The petition also urges the US government to intervene and protect Elizabeth’s rights as an American citizen. However, the US State Department has not issued any official statement or action regarding Elizabeth’s case.
Current Status
Elizabeth does not know what the future holds for her. She is afraid that she might end up in jail for a long time, or face other consequences that could ruin her life. She said that she regrets ever going to Dubai, and wishes that she could go back to New York and resume her normal life.
Elizabeth Polanco De Los Santos also hopes that her case will raise awareness and prevent other travelers from experiencing the same nightmare that she has been living. She said that she wants to use her voice to expose the injustice and corruption that exists in the UAE.
She said that she is grateful for the support and help that she has received from her family, friends, lawyer, Detained in Dubai, and the public. She said that she is trying to stay strong and positive, and hopes that justice will prevail in the end.
Boyfriend, Relationships & Personal Info
She is single and does not have any children, according to her own statement. She has not mentioned or posted any pictures of a boyfriend on her social media accounts, such as Instagram and Facebook. She seems to be focused on her studies and work, as well as traveling with her friends.
However, she has received a lot of support and love from her family, friends, and strangers who have heard about her case. She has also received some messages from admirers who have expressed their interest in her. She said that she appreciates the kindness and compassion that people have shown her, but she is not looking for a relationship right now. She said that she just wants to go back to New York and resume her normal life.
