Manuel Rodriguez Linares, an immigrant held in detention for more than six months, successfully challenged his continued custody through a habeas corpus petition. Rodriguez Linares argued that his prolonged detention violated his due process rights under the Constitution, particularly after an immigration judge failed to provide him with a proper bond hearing where the government would bear the burden of proving he was a flight risk or danger to the community.
Judge Ellison found that the immigration judge had violated the court's March 19, 2026 order mandating a bond hearing with specific procedural protections. 'In habeas cases where the Court finds an ongoing detention unlawful, the typical remedy for such detention is, of course, release,' Ellison wrote, noting that Rodriguez Linares 'has been deprived of his liberty in violation of the Due Process Clause for more than six months.' The judge cited similar cases across the Fifth Circuit where courts ordered immediate release for ongoing constitutional violations.
The case arose from Rodriguez Linares' challenge to his immigration detention, which prompted the court's initial March order requiring proper bond hearing procedures. When immigration officials failed to comply with those requirements, Rodriguez Linares filed his second motion to enforce the judgment, leading to Tuesday's hearing where Judge Ellison found the violations had occurred.
The ruling adds to a growing trend of federal courts ordering immediate release in immigration detention cases where due process violations are found. Judge Ellison ordered that if ICE seeks to re-detain Rodriguez Linares, they must provide advance notice and a pre-detention hearing with clear procedural safeguards, including the government bearing the burden of proof by clear and convincing evidence.