Federal judge Releases Four Illegal Immigrants Convicted of Murder, Sex Crimes From ICE Custody
A federal judge in Louisiana has ordered the release of four immigration detainees from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, ruling that their detention was unconstitutional under federal law. The decision, issued on February 6, 2026, has sparked significant controversy and intense reactions from government officials, immigration advocates, and legal observers alike.
The four men — Ibrahim Mohammed, Luis Gaston Sanchez, Ricardo Blanco Chomat, and Francisco Rodriguez Romero — had previously been living under supervision with ICE after earlier releases but were re‑detained by immigration authorities in the summer of 2025. All four had long histories of supervised release and had complied with ICE’s reporting requirements. A federal judge, U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles (appointed during the Obama administration), determined that the government failed to justify their continued detention, particularly where there was no reasonable likelihood of imminent deportation.
At the center of the judge’s decision was the application of the U.S. Supreme Court precedent in Zadvydas v. Davis (2001), which prohibits immigration authorities from detaining noncitizens indefinitely when removal is not reasonably foreseeable. In his 38‑page ruling, Judge deGravelles concluded that ICE had not provided sufficient evidence that the men — especially the three Cuban nationals for whom Cuba had refused travel documents — would be deported in the near future. Similarly, the fourth man, an Ethiopian national, had legal protections under the Convention Against Torture, shielding him from removal to his home country.
The four had originally been released on orders of supervised release after authorities determined they were not flight risks and did not pose an immediate threat. However, ICE re‑detained them as part of the government’s broader push to detain and remove undocumented immigrants amid heightened enforcement efforts under the Trump administration and Louisiana state policies. Critics of these expanded detention practices argue that many courts across the country are now finding similar detentions unlawful when the government cannot show a credible pathway to deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded sharply to the ruling. Senior DHS officials denounced the judge’s decision, labeling it reckless and dangerous, emphasizing the serious criminal histories of some of the men involved. According to DHS statements, the released individuals have convictions that include serious offenses such as homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, and sexual exploitation of minors — which DHS argues pose a threat to public safety. Officials publicly criticized the ruling as an example of judicial overreach and warned of potential crimes committed upon their release.
The ruling has also drawn political pushback beyond federal law enforcement. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, an immigration hardliner, has called the decision “absurd” and expressed concern about public safety and the state’s ability to enforce immigration law. This reflects broader tension between federal immigration enforcement policies and those advocated by conservative state officials.
Legal advocates and immigrant rights groups, however, have praised the judge’s order as a defense of constitutional protections against indefinite detention without due process. They argue that detaining individuals when deportation is unlikely violates basic principles of liberty and civil rights, pointing to a pattern of similar federal court decisions nationwide. These rulings emphasize the government’s obligation to justify detention under immigration law, particularly when removal prospects are remote.
This decision arrives in the context of an expanding legal battleground over immigration enforcement. Some federal courts are increasingly limiting ICE’s detention authority when removal is not imminent, while other appellate panels have backed mandatory detention policies in different immigration contexts. The legal landscape is dynamic and remains subject to ongoing litigation at both district and appellate levels.
As of now, the four men have been released under previously established supervision conditions, and ICE has been barred from re‑detaining them without due process. The ruling may inspire similar habeas corpus petitions by other detained immigrants, potentially prompting further judicial scrutiny of detention practices that prioritize enforcement intensity over individualized assessments of removal likelihood.
⚖️ Key Legal Outcomes
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A federal judge ruled that ICE violated constitutional and statutory due process by detaining individuals when there was no reasonable prospect of removal.
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The court ordered the immediate release of four detainees from Louisiana State Penitentiary’s immigration unit (“Camp 57”).
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The judge applied the Zadvydas v. Davis precedent, reinforcing limits on indefinite immigration detention absent foreseeable deportation.
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ICE was barred from re‑detaining the men without procedural justification, strengthening habeas corpus protections in immigration contexts.
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The ruling could influence future litigation challenging expanded detention policies, especially where removal prospects are unlikely.
🔍 Why It Matters
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It reinforces judicial limits on immigration detention absent imminent deportation, shaping enforcement boundaries.
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The decision highlights due process standards in immigration law, particularly habeas corpus protections.
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It could affect nationwide detention practices as courts increasingly scrutinize detentions without foreseeable removal.
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The case underscores tension between judicial review and executive immigration enforcement priorities.
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It may lead to more lawsuits challenging immigration detentions, potentially altering enforcement strategies.
