US, Jan 17 : US federal judges in California have ordered the release of three Indian citizens, ruling that their detention violated basic due process rights. The cases highlight procedural lapses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which re-arrested the men without hearings or prior notice despite earlier releases.
The rulings came this week in separate cases across the Eastern and Southern Districts of California. All three individuals had been released previously while pursuing asylum or other immigration relief when they were detained again.
Case summaries:
Harmeet S., 21, entered the United States in August 2022 and was released as a minor under federal child protection laws. Despite complying with all conditions and having no criminal record, Harmeet was detained in November 2025 without notice or a bond hearing. US District Judge Troy L. Nunley ordered his immediate release, barring ICE from re-arresting him without a hearing and proof of danger or flight risk.
Sawan K., who entered the US in September 2024 and claimed fear of political persecution in India, was detained again in September 2025 during a routine check in. Judge Nunley ruled that mandatory detention rules had been improperly applied and ordered his release. ICE cannot re-detain Sawan unless constitutional procedures are followed.
Amit Amit, detained in Southern California at the Imperial Regional Detention Center, entered the US in September 2022. He was arrested in September 2025 outside his residence without explanation or prior notice. US District Judge Janis L. Sammartino granted a writ of habeas corpus, ordering his immediate release and requiring due process for any future detention.
In all three cases, the courts emphasized that individuals released from immigration custody acquire a protected liberty interest. Detaining them without hearings poses a high risk of wrongful deprivation of liberty and undermines constitutional safeguards.
The rulings reaffirm the courts’ commitment to due process protections for immigrants and underscore the importance of procedural compliance by federal authorities.