The illegal immigrant “Dreamer” that ICE agents are trying to deport as a gang member was granted bond by an immigration judge late Tuesday, meaning he’ll soon be released while he awaits the rest of his deportation case.
Daniel Ramirez Medina has become a major test case for both immigrant-rights advocates and Homeland Security, which is trying to carry out President Trump’s new deportation policies.
Mr. Ramirez, who was apprehended in a raid that also netted his father, has twice been approved for President Obama’s 2012 deportation amnesty for young adult illegal immigrants, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
Even as he’s allowed agents to target other illegal immigrants, Mr. Trump has said Dreamers — those who qualify for DACA — are still off limits, unless they have a criminal record that would make then ineligible.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says that when it went to arrest Mr. Ramirez’s father, it encountered the young man, and he admitted to gang ties, which would disqualify him. Mr. Ramirez’s lawyers say ICE fabricated the case and doesn’t have gang ties.
Mr. Ramirez had filed a case in federal district court asking to be released, saying agents were violating the terms of DACA. At the same time, he had asked for a bond hearing before an immigration judge.
On Tuesday, the judge agreed to release him.
“The judge affirmed that Daniel does not pose any risk to public safety,” said Luis Cortes, one of Mr. Ramirez’s lawyers.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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