Overview
- Homeland Security general counsel James Percival escalated the dispute Tuesday with a Federalist op-ed that attacked U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose and argued she lacked authority to order an ICE detainee’s release.
- Justice Department attorney Kevin Bolan told the court he withheld a Dominican Republic homicide warrant at ICE’s direction, apologized for the omission, and now faces a referral for possible discipline.
- Chief Judge John McConnell appointed legal ethics expert Niki Kuckes as special counsel to review records, seek documents, interview witnesses, and recommend any misconduct sanctions.
- DHS has kept an April 30 press release online that labeled DuBose an “activist” and said she freed a man “wanted for murder,” which the court called dangerous and which DOJ lawyers said they asked DHS to remove.
- After DuBose later authorized ICE to re-detain Bryan Rafael Gomez pending an immigration bond hearing, he has not been located, and the judge ordered a detailed status update on efforts to find him.