Judge orders immediate release of asylum seeker wrongfully detained by ICE

In the U.S., a federal judge in Oregon ordered the release of a 24-year-old Mexican migrant known as Y-Z-L-H who was unlawfully detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On June 5, 2025, he attended an asylum hearing at the Portland Immigration Court, where he requested additional time to secure legal representation. Despite his objections, the court dismissed his asylum application. Following this, ICE agents arrested him immediately upon exiting the courtroom, bringing him to Tacoma, Washington’s ICE detention facility. Y-Z-L-H's legal status had been provisionally granted due to humanitarian grounds, which ICE officials failed to acknowledge during his detention. Judge Simon granted Y-Z-L-H's habeas petition, determining that ICE's actions violated the Administrative Procedure Act, as no lawful justification for his detention had been provided. The judge firmly stated that ICE officers must adhere to legal protocols and cannot arbitrarily decide to detain individuals without legitimate reasoning. Government attorneys argued that the decision to detain him was left to the discretion of Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, but Judge Simon rejected this rationale. He emphasized that the executive branch must operate within the boundaries of the law enacted by Congress. The litigation also revealed that ICE officials made initial claims that Y-Z-L-H’s temporary status would expire soon, only to reverse this later, acknowledging that his legal status remained valid until July 2025. Y-Z-L-H entered the U.S. in July 2023 after fleeing threats from the Familia Michoacana drug cartel, underscoring a humanitarian need for his temporary stay. After formally applying for asylum a year earlier, he was granted a temporary safe status in the U.S., reinforcing the illegitimacy of his detention. Y-Z-L-H’s case reflects the increasing scrutiny of immigration processes and highlights the balance of power between federal agencies and individual rights. The Migration Law Lab, representing Y-Z-L-H, has actively challenged several aspects of U.S. immigration policy—especially those affecting the rights of asylum seekers. This ruling points to a significant precedent regarding due process and the obligation of ICE to provide lawful grounds for detention, reinforcing the judicial system's role in checking executive actions.