In a significant victory for immigrant rights, federal judges in California have ordered U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to immediately release three Indian nationals from detention. The rulings, handed down this week in separate cases across the Eastern and Southern Districts, highlight procedural lapses that violated basic constitutional protections.
The backdrop is the tightening of immigration enforcement following President Trump’s return to office. Policies have intensified scrutiny on migrants, leading to re-detentions without proper notice or hearings. Each of the three individuals had been previously released but was rearrested abruptly, prompting judicial intervention.
In the first case, U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley ordered the release of 21-year-old Harmeet S., who arrived in the U.S. in August 2022. As a minor under federal child protection laws, Harmeet was initially released while his immigration case remained pending. He enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s Alternatives to Detention program, complied with all check-ins, and had no criminal history.
Despite presenting himself for a routine in-person check-in in November 2025, Harmeet was detained without advance notice. He spent over a month in custody without a bond hearing. Judge Nunley ruled that this detention likely violated the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, which safeguards against arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
The judge mandated Harmeet’s immediate release and barred ICE from re-detaining him without prior notice or a hearing. Future detentions would require evidence of flight risk or danger to the community.
A second ruling by Judge Nunley freed Sawan K., an Indian citizen who entered the U.S. in September 2024 seeking asylum due to political persecution fears in India. Detained briefly upon arrival, Sawan was released pending his asylum application. He continued regular ICE check-ins until a routine appointment in September 2025, when he was re-detained without a warrant or hearing—for nearly four months.
In the third case from Southern California, U.S. District Judge Janice L. Sammartino issued a writ of habeas corpus for Amit, detained at the Imperial Regional Detention Center. Amit arrived in September 2022, was briefly held, then released on recognizance. He secured employment, applied for asylum, and maintained a clean record. In September 2025, ICE arrested him outside his home while waiting for a ride to work.
These decisions underscore a judiciary pushing back against overreach in immigration enforcement. They serve as a reminder that even amid stricter policies, constitutional due process remains paramount. The rulings could set precedents for similar cases, offering hope to thousands navigating America’s complex immigration landscape.
