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Surfer Released After 4 Months in Immigration Detention

Jan 28, 2026 · San Diego, CA, Lebanon

Surfer Released After 4 Months in Immigration Detention

Hagop Chirinian, a non-citizen surfer, was released after being detained for four months following an accidental trespass onto Camp Pendleton beach. A federal judge ordered ICE to release him, ruling the agency violated its own protocols by detaining him despite knowing he could not be deported, as Lebanon refused to accept him. Chirinian had been living under an order of supervision with a work permit for nearly 30 years without additional convictions.

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