A federal judge has issued an emergency order preventing immigration authorities from taking a man back into custody, just hours before he was due to report to a government office. The ruling comes after the individual was released from a detention facility late Thursday.
In her order, the judge stated that re-detaining the man would undermine the court’s authority before a full hearing could be held. She indicated that his legal arguments against continued detention appeared strong.
The man addressed supporters following the decision, expressing gratitude and determination. “I stand before you a free man,” he said through an interpreter, vowing to continue his legal fight against what he called injustices.
He had been released to return to his family in Maryland, where he lives with his wife and child. His release followed a judge’s order, but his legal status remains contested.
His case has drawn significant attention due to its complex history. Earlier this year, he was deported to a prison in El Salvador, a move his lawyers argued violated a prior court order. After a high-profile effort, he was returned to the United States only to face separate criminal charges in another state. Since then, authorities have attempted to deport him to several other countries.
An earlier court order in August had already blocked his immediate removal from the country. The latest ruling prevents his return to immigration custody while the court considers his request for permanent relief from detention. His legal team argues that the government lacks the authority to hold him without a final deportation order.
The case continues to unfold as a focal point in ongoing debates over immigration enforcement and detention authority.