Federal Judge Orders Release of 24 Individuals Unlawfully Detained by Immigration Officials in Montana
A federal judge has ordered the release of 24 individuals who were unlawfully detained by immigration officials in Cascade County, Montana, some for over six weeks. U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris issued the release order, stating that proper arrests require either a warrant or a belief that a noncitizen is in the country illegally and poses a flight risk. The judge found no evidence that either of these conditions existed in the cases of the detained individuals. This ruling is part of a class-action lawsuit, and Upper Seven Law, representing the detainees, confirmed that these individuals will now be able to return to their families. The case began with the unlawful arrest of Jesus Verde Hernandez near Lewistown by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in late July, followed by similar arrests of a father and child without warrants or suspicion of flight risk.
