Overview
- A federal judge ordered ICE on Wednesday to release 18-year-old Luis Fernando Cabrera from the Karnes County detention center by Friday and prohibited his deportation after his lawyers filed a habeas corpus petition.
- Cabrera was detained after a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper stopped him for an expired registration on May 1 and referred him to ICE, which transferred him to the immigration processing center.
- His family’s asylum matter dates to 2019 when they fled threats in Honduras and Mexico, and attorneys say Cabrera learned in detention that his original asylum filing was not completed and have since refiled his paperwork.
- Classmates, family and public figures including U.S. Rep. Greg Casar rallied for Cabrera’s release, and supporters say he has been completing schoolwork in detention and hopes to walk at his June 2 graduation.
- Advocates say the case underscores how state-federal referrals can turn minor traffic violations into long detentions and shows habeas petitions can secure temporary relief while immigration proceedings continue.