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Federal Habeas Ruling Frees Cuban Detainee After 80 Days in ICE Custody

The rare habeas decision is being cited as a blueprint for others to contest ICE detention.

Overview

  • Daniel Alejandro Escobar Rodríguez, 25, was arrested on December 4, 2025, after arriving for a routine immigration appointment in Miami while holding an I-220A form.
  • He was transferred among detention centers in Florida, Louisiana and Texas, with his family alleging poor conditions and reporting he spent time in the facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.”
  • His legal team filed a federal habeas corpus petition in mid-February; the court ruled within roughly two weeks that the detention was unlawful.
  • Bond was granted soon after the ruling, and Escobar was released around February 21, 2026, following about 80 days in ICE custody.
  • Relatives say he has no criminal record and was complying with immigration procedures, and his underlying immigration case remains active despite his release.