Federal Judge Says ICE Illegally Detained Iowa Man Before Issuing Notice to Appear
A federal judge ruled that ICE illegally detained an Iowa man before issuing a notice to appear, saying agents tried to "cover its tracks." In a related sign of judicial pushback on immigration enforcement, a Florida judge has harshly criticized the Trump DOJ’s immigration position as “incoherent” and threatened sanctions.
📌 Key Facts
- Judge Stephen Locher ruled on Jan. 2, 2026 that ICE unlawfully detained Jorge Eliecer Gonzalez Ochoa on Dec. 23, 2025 because no Notice to Appear had yet been issued.
- Locher said ICE later mailed the NTA in a way that appeared intended to "obfuscate" timing and "cover its tracks," calling the conduct "unacceptable" and inconsistent with federal regulations.
- The court declined to order immediate release but held Gonzalez Ochoa is entitled to an individualized bond hearing in immigration court within seven days.
- Gonzalez Ochoa, a Colombian national, had his earlier removal case dismissed in October 2025, then was federally indicted Oct. 9 on document-fraud and false Social Security number charges before a judge ordered his conditional release in December.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time